Updates to Subjects Discussed in The Legacy of John McDonogh

The updates are listed in ascending order by posting date.

All updates ©2002-11 by G. Leighton Ciravolo.

16 May 2002 - Mr. John W. Leinhardt, McDonogh No. 26 alumnus, died at age 91.

Mr. John W. Leinhardt died at about 2 a.m. on the same day as the 112th commemoration of McDonogh Day, Friday, May 3, 2002. He was born on December 29, 1910, 131 years to the day John McDonogh was born. Mr. Leinhardt attended the original McDonogh No. 26 in the late 1910s and was a frequent supporter of his alma mater and of McDonogh Day. He was always grateful to John McDonogh for insuring that he could receive an education.

16 May 2002 - City of Gretna to receive final disbursement from McDonogh Fund.

The last disbursement of the McDonogh Fund is to be used by the City of Gretna for maintaining McDonogh's original tomb in McDonoghville Cemetery. Restoring the tomb is in accordance with one of the two past usages of the Fund: schools and tomb restoration. Unfortunately, the Fund is no longer quantitatively sufficient to provide for schools. This leaves restoration as the only use for the Fund. It was popularly believed that the Fund was totally exhausted in 1951, as a partial payment for construction of McDonogh No. 39. In reality, a negligible balance was kept, and it grew quietly for over 50 years under the McDonogh Commission and its successor, the Board of City Trusts. This author discovered that there was still a balance and alerted Gretna Mayor Ronnie C. Harris, who made the formal request. As a result, the Board of City Trusts and the New Orleans City Council authorized the transfer.

16 May 2002 - Error: Year McDonogh's grave and monument moved to Maryland campus.

There is an error on p. 68 regarding the year McDonogh's grave and monument were moved to the Maryland campus. The correct year was 1945. The incorrect year was found in a recent book written by an alumnus of the Maryland school. The author has since discovered that the alumnus was incorrect.

30 July 2002 - School listed in Appendix III closed due to dwindling enrollment.

Myrtle Banks Elementary (formerly McDonogh No. 38) closed at the end of the 2001-02 school year. The students are to be transferred to neighboring schools.

30 July 2002 - McDonogh money funded annex to Laurel Elementary in 1970s.

According to Sam Scarnato, deputy superintendent of New Orleans Public Schools from 1972-84, the Orleans Parish School Board received money from a settlement regarding land near New Orleans East, which McDonogh allegedly owned. This "McDonogh Fund" was separate from the McDonogh Fund maintained by the City of New Orleans. The settlement money was used as partial payment for an annex to Laurel Elementary, which was located near McDonogh No. 1. Once the annex was completed in 1974, McDonogh No. 1 closed, and its students went to Laurel. Laurel and McDonogh No. 1 had been one school, known as Laurel-McDonogh No. 1, from 1931-74, according to Meyer, Names over Schools, p. 129. Thus, the last annex to be built with McDonogh money in New Orleans was to Laurel in 1974. The last new school to be built was McDonogh No. 39 in 1951. The final disbursement of McDonogh money was to Gretna in 2002, described in an earlier update.

20 August 2003 - Tomb restorations unveiled during 2003 McDonogh Day.

(Update modified December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004.)

The 113th annual McDonogh Day ceremony occurred on Friday, May 2, 2003. The 2003 program was listed as a Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Educational Event and featured recent restorations to the McDonogh tomb. A tent and chairs were a welcome addition to the event, and attendance was larger than expected. Unlike in past years when the ceremonies would begin with the arrival of the delegates, the 2003 event began before the McDonogh No. 26 delegates arrived. VFW John McDonogh Post 3121 led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pastor Steve K. Arndt of Gretna Presbyterian Church delivered an invocation. Upon arrival of the delegates, presentations were given by New Orleans City Councilperson Jackie Clarkson, Gretna Mayor Ronnie C. Harris, Jefferson Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr. Diane Roussel, Jefferson Parish School Board Member Chris Roberts, and Author G. Leighton Ciravolo. From McDonogh No. 26, Principal Diane Nowik and staff member Sally Falcone gave presentations. Leading in the "Ode to McDonogh" was teacher Karen Favorite. Attending were New Orleans City Councilperson Marlin N. Gusman, Jefferson Parish Councilperson Lloyd F. Giardina, and Gretna City Councilpeople Jonathan C. Bolar and Sammy Marchese. Also in attendance were Yvonne Nuhrah, widow of the late McDonogh historian Dr. Arthur G. Nuhrah, and her friend Amelia Aremia, who has written a fictional book based on Dr. Nuhrah's research. Both came from North Carolina to visit. Several past principals of McDonogh No. 26 attended as well: Mikie Ehret, Joy Gregory, and Jeannine Chance. Commemorative pins were distributed to the delegates and dignitaries.

The tomb restorations were completed with the final disbursement of the McDonogh Fund, in the amount of $8,891.51, given by the City of New Orleans in 2002 (described in an earlier update). Restorations were completed later in 2002 by architectural conservator Dorothy S. Krotzer and her assistant, Lindsay Hannah, for $5,618.03. Krotzer was recommended for the project by Louise Fergusson Saenz, executive director of Save Our Cemeteries, Inc. Hannah and Saenz also attended the 2003 McDonogh Day ceremony. The 2002 project was the first time the McDonogh tomb received restoration, other than fence repainting, since 1926. In addition, Howard Weiser, McDonoghville Cemetery sexton, repainted the tomb's vase at no charge. The remaining McDonogh Fund disbursement is dedicated to future McDonogh tomb preservation.

The approximately 43 minute McDonogh Day program was filmed by the Jefferson Parish Public School System TV Studio and is being shown (during 2003) on Cox Cable Jefferson Channel 8. Contact the TV studio at 504-349-7958 to inquire about (or to request) showtimes or to purchase a copy. (Incidentally, the 2001 ceremony had been filmed as well but only in snippets.)

20 August 2003 - Some schools listed in Appendix III closed.

Mahalia Jackson Elementary (formerly McDonogh No. 36) closed at the end of the 2002-03 school year. Its students have been sent to the newly constructed Edgar P. Harney Elementary. James Lewis Elementary (located in the old McDonogh No. 14 building) also closed at the end of the 2002-03 school year. The old McDonogh No. 14 building is now the new location of Benjamin Franklin Elementary. (Note: Franklin Elementary is not the same school as the better known Franklin Senior High School. Incidentally, Franklin Senior High occupied the old McDonogh No. 23 building before moving to a new campus.)

20 August 2003 - McDonogh No. 27 commemorated McDonogh Day in New Orleans.

According to Bernice Grandison Dormio, an alumna of the old McDonogh No. 27 of Gretna, McDonogh No. 27 commemorated McDonogh Day in New Orleans with the New Orleans schools. This observation augments the analysis at page 44, footnote 109.

24 August 2003 - In Memoriam: Glenn R. Conrad of the Center for Louisiana Studies.

Glenn Russell Conrad was the founding director of the 30 year old Center for Louisiana Studies. The Center is part of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette), and it has promoted Louisiana history through many means including: archival preservation, academic conferences, publication of the scholarly journal Louisiana History, and book publication. The Legacy of John McDonogh is one of the many books the Center has published.

Born in New Iberia, Louisiana on September 3, 1932, Glenn Conrad earned a Master of Arts in History from Georgetown University in 1959 and joined the faculty of UL Lafayette (then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana) in 1965. He earned the title Distinguished Professor of History in 1978 and authored 29 books on Louisiana history. Professor Conrad also edited the 20 volume Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Series in Louisiana History, published from 1995-2003. He furthermore wrote or edited 48 articles on Louisiana history and directed the Small Town Louisiana project, which photographed 217 Louisiana towns resulting in 8,000 transparencies. Professor Conrad additionally served as chairman of the State Review Committee for the National Register of Historic Places for 25 years, was on the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Commission, and was secretary-treasurer of the Louisiana Historical Association. He was also a candidate for a Doctorate of Philosophy in European History at Louisiana State University.

Professor Conrad's full obituary appeared in The Advertiser (Lafayette) of June 6, 2003. It eloquently described "his generous encouragement of others interested in expanding knowledge and understanding of Louisiana's past" and added that "his contributions to the state's heritage can scarcely be measured." Without Professor Conrad and the Center, Louisiana history books like The Legacy of John McDonogh would never have been publicly published.

Professor Conrad died on June 4, 2003 at age 70, after a lengthy illness. He died at his residence in New Iberia. This author extends his deepest condolences to Professor Conrad's family, friends, the Center, and the University for their loss.

26 August 2003 - Count regarding total number of McDonogh funded schools.

What follows is an exact count based on the analysis at page 55, footnote 130.

There were 36 McDonogh funded schools established in New Orleans and 3 in Gretna. Therefore, there were 39 McDonogh funded schools established in Louisiana. (There were 40 McDonogh funded schools total, counting the one established in Maryland.)

1 June 2004 - 114th Commemoration of John McDonogh Day held on May 7, 2004.

This year's McDonogh Day featured Gretna Mayor Ronnie C. Harris, Jefferson Parish Council Chairman John Young, Jefferson Parish Councilmember Chris Roberts (formerly a Jefferson Parish School Board member), New Orleans City Councilmember Jackie Clarkson, Historian G. Leighton Ciravolo, and Gretna Tourism Coordinator Virgie T. Ott. Attending was Gretna City Councilmember Ricky Templet. Pictures of McDonogh's likeness were presented to the VFW John McDonogh Post 3121 and to Ciravolo. Harris also presented a proclamation to Ciravolo commemorating his contributions to McDonogh Day.

The approximately 37 minute McDonogh Day program was filmed by the Jefferson Parish Public School System TV Studio and is being shown (during 2004-05) on Cox Cable Jefferson Channel 8. Contact the TV studio at 504-349-7958 to inquire about (or to request) showtimes or to purchase a copy.

29 March 2005 - William Allan's Life and Work of John McDonogh for sale.

The Jefferson Historical Society of Louisiana has never-used, 1983 reprints of William Allan's 1886 book, Life and Work of John McDonogh for $10 each, plus shipping. Ordering details may be found by clicking here.

25 August 2005 - 115th Commemoration of John McDonogh Day held on May 6, 2005.

This year's McDonogh Day began with the "Pledge of Allegiance" led by members of VFW John McDonogh Post 3121 and featured the following speakers from last year's event - Mayor Harris, Councilmember-at-Large Young, Councilmember Roberts, Councilmember Clarkson, and Leighton Ciravolo. Jefferson Parish School Board Member Mark C. Morgan also spoke, and Dr. Frank Minyard, Orleans Parish Coroner, trumpeted an impromptu, solo version of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." In attendance were Councilmember Templet and Dr. David Heitmeier, representing his brother, Senator Francis C. Heitmeier, who was in Baton Rouge for the legislative session.

The approximately 35 minute McDonogh Day program was filmed by the Jefferson Parish Public School System TV Studio and is being shown (during 2005-06) on Cox Cable Jefferson Channel 8. Contact the TV studio at 504-349-7958 to inquire about (or to request) showtimes or to purchase a copy.

10 September 2006 - 116th Commemoration of John McDonogh Day held on May 5, 2006.

This year's McDonogh Day began with the "Pledge of Allegiance" led by members of VFW John McDonogh Post 3121 and featured the following speakers from last year's event - Mayor Harris, Council Chairman Young, Councilmember Roberts, Councilmember Clarkson, and Leighton Ciravolo. In attendance was Councilmember Templet. This year's event was especially significant, because it was the first McDonogh Day since Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failures devastated the New Orleans area. A larger than usual number of delegates from McDonogh 26, including Cub Scouts, participated in the event, under the leadership of Acting Principal Janet "Jan" Herbez. A separate ceremony was held in the school gymnasium later that day for all students.

The approximately 33 minute McDonogh Day program was filmed by the Jefferson Parish Public School System TV Studio and is being shown (during 2006-07) on Cox Cable Jefferson Channel 8. Contact the TV studio at 504-349-7958 to inquire about (or to request) showtimes or to purchase a copy.

McDonogh 26 was one of the first public schools in Jefferson Parish to reopen post-Katrina on October 3, 2005, having been closed since August 29, 2005. McDonogh 26 welcomed many displaced students from Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes; these students comprised most of its enrollment during the 2005-06 school year. From October 3, 2005 to January 17, 2006, McDonogh 26 was the only operating McDonogh school in Louisiana.

McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD has helped McDonogh 26 considerably over the 2005-06 school year, conducting countless fundraisers yielding approximately $20,000 and sending two groups of faculty and students to provide much needed labor. One group presented Mayor Harris with a proclamation from Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley declaring March 12, 2006, as "Gretna Day" in Baltimore. The City of Baltimore also provided the City of Gretna with rescue personnel and equipment after Katrina's impact.

18 October 2007 - 117th Commemoration of John McDonogh Day held on May 4, 2007.

This year's McDonogh Day began with the "Pledge of Allegiance" led by members of VFW John McDonogh Post 3121, along with a Cub Scout honor guard, and featured the following speakers from past events - Harris, Young, Roberts, Morgan, and Ciravolo, plus the following new speakers: Frank J. Borne, Jr., who represented the Gretna Historical Society, Jefferson Historical Society of Louisiana, and Jefferson Parish Historical Commission and State Representative Jeff Arnold. In attendance was Steve Deline, a graduate of the McDonogh School of Maryland, who was filming a documentary about McDonogh’s legacy. A large delegation of 117 students served as delegates from McDonogh 26, along with some parents, faculty, and staff under the leadership of Principal Jan Herbez and staff member Sally Falcone. The delegates arrived with posters depicting various aspects of McDonogh’s life and legacy. The VFW post gave each student a U.S. flag., and Roberts gave each student a pencil commemorating the event. The Ode to McDonogh was led, via compact disc, by a McDonogh of Maryland graduate, and flowers were placed on McDonogh’s tomb by faculty and staff. Several students participated in a skit about McDonogh’s life and legacy, and a student read a poem about McDonogh’s life and legacy.

Herbez told of how McDonogh 26’s sister school community in Maryland has continued with assistance by sending additional delegates to perform labor. In addition, triplets who visited McDonogh 26 requested, on their graduation announcements, for donations to be sent to McDonogh 26 in lieu of graduation gifts. McDonogh 26 has received about $2,800 as a result. Another graduate of the Maryland school hosted a silent art auction which raised about $3,000 for McDonogh 26. In addition, members of the Maryland school community provided McDonogh 26 with much needed computer software and clothes.

A tent was provided, courtesy of the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department, so visitors could sit in the shade. This is the second year JPRD has graciously provided a tent. In previous years, a private tent was rented.

Later that day, a separate ceremony was held at McDonogh 26 for all students featuring snowballs and the Navy Brass Band. Street flooding caused delayed school dismissal, but came late enough to spare all McDonogh Day events from cancellation.

The approximately 42 minute McDonogh Day program was filmed by the Jefferson Parish Public School System TV Studio and is being shown (during 2007-08) on Cox Cable Jefferson Channel 8. Contact the TV studio at 504-349-7958 to inquire about (or to request) showtimes or to purchase a copy.

25 January 2009 - 118th Commemoration of John McDonogh Day held on May 2, 2008.

This year's McDonogh Day began with the "Pledge of Allegiance" led by members of VFW John McDonogh Post 3121, along with a Cub Scout honor guard, and featured the following speakers from past events - Harris, Young, Roberts, Morgan, Ciravolo, and Borne. Also speaking was New Orleans City Councilmember-at-Large Jackie Clarkson. In attendance were two alumni of McDonogh School, Maryland: Kevin Cummings and documentary producer Steve Deline. Cummings was in town volunteering for Habitat for Humanity at Musicians’ Village in New Orleans. A huge delegation of approximately 250 students attended from McDonogh 26, along with some parents, faculty, and staff under the leadership of Principal Jan Herbez and staff member Sally Falcone. The delegates arrived with portraits of John McDonogh and of the old 1920s McDonogh 26 schoolhouse. The weather was overcast and windy, but the rain held off during the event. Blaine S. Kern, Sr., known as “Mr. Mardi Gras” and the founder of Mardi Gras World and related businesses, led in the recitation of the Ode to McDonogh. Kern’s businesses in Algiers are located close to where McDonogh’s house once stood. Kern, a self-made man like McDonogh, has always found inspiration in the example McDonogh set within his community. Alumni of various McDonogh schools were in attendance, and some students were acknowledged for being in families with 2-4 generations of alumni from McDonogh 26 and other McDonogh schools. Herbez discussed how McDonogh 26 spent the entire week playing games that were played in McDonogh’s day, along with sharing poems, stories, and songs of the era. She also acknowledged further assistance from the McDonogh, Maryland community who was sending yet another group of students to assist McDonogh 26.