The Algiers Historical Society was formed in October, 1999, by Kevin HERRIDGE and Judi ROBERTSON and a handful of like-minded people to promote the history of Algiers (and occasionally McDonoghville, Freetown and Gretna) and inform the newer residents, and those born in Algiers, through a 16-page quarterly newsletter called the “Algerine” and monthly meetings with speakers (no meetings in July or August). Free subscriptions are available to local libraries and schools as a pdf file.

The Society's membership year runs from January 1st to December 31st and subscriptions are due each year on January 1st. If you should join towards the end of a year you will receive the back issues of the “Algerine” for that year (if available in printed form or as pdf files) unless you stipulate you wish to join for the forthcoming year. Annual membership is $15. Business membership is $25, which includes the publication of your business card in each issue of the “Algerine.” Membership from outside the U.S. - $15. Please make checks payable to the Algiers Historical Society and mail to our Treasurer - Russell VANDYKE, 235 Lavergne St., New Orleans, LA.70114. You can also receive the “Algerine” as a pdf file if you prefer.

All enquiries should be sent to the President, Kevin HERRIDGE, 335 Pelican Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114, or email to cockney@bellsouth.net, or (504)368-1123, or algiershistory@yahoo.com

A 24-page quarterly newsletter. The newsletter includes a message from the President, articles, photos, maps, members’ letters, information on forthcoming meetings and speakers, and lists of new members. Articles are always welcome, preferably in “word” format if you have a computer, but handwritten memories of life in Algiers are also encouraged. When submitting articles, please put all last names in capitals. Back copies can be purchased at $3.00 each  (see index). Also (from Sept., 2006 [issue no.24]) available as pdf files for the same price.

The Society is always seeking speakers, preferably on Algiers or New Orleans related topics. If you can speak for 20-30 minutes on your life, family, church, music or Algiers experiences, please feel free to contact us. We do not have meetings in July or August. Members and non-members may be notified of forthcoming meetings, etc., by giving their email address to Russ VAN DYKE at banjoruss@yahoo.com. Always use your membership number when corresponding. It can be found next to your name on the address label of the newsletter.

Meetings will be held the third Saturday of each month, 10.00am, at the Algiers Museum (at the rear of the Courthouse, opposite the Canal Street car ferry), 225 Morgan Street, unless otherwise stated. Doors open at 9.45am:

2008 - Sept.20^th - Post-Hurricane Katrina Algiers. Let us hear your Katrina stories, whether you stayed or came back to chaos and military rule.

Oct.18^th - Tracing the history of your house

Nov.15^th - The History of the Cita Dennis Hubbell Library - and its future

Dec.20^th - The Battle of New Orleans

2009 - Jan.17^th - “Show & Tell” - do you have any Algiers memorabilia, maps, photos, memories, etc., you would like to share? Please bring them along.

Feb.21^st - Algiers maps. Kevin will bring along a display of maps and plans made throughout the history of Algiers.

Please watch ‘Times-Picayune’ for any changes in details.

When Judi ROBERTSON and myself started the Algiers Historical Society, she was very active with the Friends of Algiers Courthouse, an organization that, through private and public funding, renovates the Courthouse and its grounds. She encouraged me to become a member of the Friends as she had a dream that one day, the stables would be converted into a museum to celebrate Algiers and its people.

Thanks to a Louisiana State Grant, and smaller grants from Entergy and the New Orleans City Council, work began in 1999 when a new roof was put on the building, and the exterior was made leak-proof. The interior brickwork was cleaned, the interior of the roof was insulated, air conditioning/heating was added, stairs, bathrooms, offices, kitchen, and storerooms were installed. The whole building was painted and re-cycled cypress was formed into a banister and handrail for the mezzanine floor. Concrete was poured for the floor, which was then stained and scored in a tile pattern.

Jessica HACK was appointed curator and I was involved, with Jessica’s help, in assembling five display panels that celebrate Algiers’ rich Jazz history.

If you have any Algiers’ photographs, memorabilia, artifacts, etc., that we can copy, or you can donate, or loan, please contact Jessica on (504)366-0786, or me on (504)368-1123, or if you want to support the Friends of Algiers Courthouse and become a member, please contact me and I will pass your information on.

(All issues feature a message from the President and members’ letters)

No.1 (Dec., 2000) – Algiers Early Names, Researching Historic Property, About The President,

No.2 (Mar., 2001) – Family History; Algiers When I Was A Boy; The DANIELS Brothers; Louisiana Indians; George LEWIS. Jazz Clarinetist.

No.3 (Jun., 2001) – The BOCAGE Boat Builders; Charles BOCAGE; Eddie BO; Toussaint L’OUVERTURE; The Folly Theatre Remembered.

No.4 (Sep., 2001) – Algiers Markets; Henry “Red” ALLEN; Charles Henry BROWNLEE.

No.5 (Dec., 2001) – The Jackson MOLAISON Interviews; Henry David FRENCH.

No.6 (Mar., 2002) – The Jackson MOLAISON Interviews (contd.); The GOSSELIN Property; The GOSSELIN Tract.

No.7 (Jun., 2002) – Martin Behrman FRENCH; Henry David FRENCH; John BROWNLEE; The Events of June, 1912.

No.8 (Sep., 2002) – The Missing Cylinder; Algiers Musicians; It’s All In The Algiers Herald; Voodoo In New Orleans; John McDONOGH; Lot 9 – Square 16.

No.9 (Dec., 2002) – Algiers Point Celebrates 95th Birthday; Lot 9 – Square 16 (contd.); 1841 City Directory; FRENCH/BROWNLEE Photos; Civil War Notes.

No.10 (Mar., 2003) – DUVERJE Cemetery/DELCAZAL Park; Street Names.

No.11 (Jun., 2003) – Creoles Of Color; BEHRMAN High School Band; Bars, Saloons, Clubs & Taverns Of 1955; Red Light Look At New Orleans; Gulf Refining Company.

No.12 (Sep., 2003) – Horse Racing, Bull & Bear Combats & Jazz; Boxing & Side Shows; The Ping Pong Club & Gussie NEAL.

No.13 (Dec., 2003) – Algiers’ Italian Grocery Stores & Markets; Placide ADAMS; Urbin “Cricket” SCHERNBECK; Trinity Lutheran Church “Harvest Jubilee.”

No.14 (Mar., 2004) – Algiers During Prohibition; 1933 Saloon Ads; c.1940 BEHRMAN School Band; “I’m My Own Grandpa.”

No.15 (Jun., 2004) – Bonnie & Clyde in Algiers; William S. BURROUGHS; A Walk With Judge FORTIER (1850 Census taker).

No.16 (Sep., 2004) – John HUGHES: Algiers Ship Builder; Ronnie BARRON; “Kid” Thomas VALENTINE; John McDONOGH; Civil War Notes.

No.17 (Dec., 2004) – The Algiers Brass Band; The City Over The River; 1842: Algiers City Directory.

No.18 (Mar. 2005) – “Dis ‘n’ Dat;” Algiers: The Chicago Link; 1846: City Directory for Algiers & McDonoghville; A Brief Ethnic History of New Orleans; “The Story of Algiers” Index; Milton MARTIN Interview; Capt. Levi Perry BACK; Algiers Sidewalks.

No.19 (Jun., 2005) – “Dis ‘n’ Dat;” 1930 Algiers’ Musicians; The DUVERJE De MARIE Family; The Saint Domingue Refugees; Tom ALBERT Interview.

No.20, (Sep., 2005), – add - "Dis 'n' Dat;" Adolph RINCK, Portrait Painter; "Brilliant;" Algiers Railroad Era; Pelican Gulf Station; Jazz Photograph Inventory.

No.21, (Dec., 2005) – "Dis 'n' Dat;" City Over The River That Is The Brooklyn Of New Orleans; Norman Edward BROWNLEE; Marcus GARVEY; Algiers' SUTHERLANDs.

No.22 (Mar., 2006) – The Algiers Railroad; “Over Da River”; The 18th Vermont Infantry Regiment in Algiers.

No.23 (Jun., 2006) – The Algiers' SUTHERLANDS (contd.); The Attack on Algiers, 1815.

No.24 (Sep., 2006) – Melvin BUSH; the Algiers Ferry Boats of 1925; the Pelican Dry Dock; the MORGAN Line; Addendum to Algiers’ SUTHERLANDS; Lee Harvey OSWALD; the Saloons of 1915.

No.25 (Dec., 2006) – Gretna (a short history and dedication); Street Railways of Old Algiers; “Over Da River”; “Dis ‘n’ Dat.”

No.26 (Mar., 2007) - The Pendulum Swings; Antebellum Algiers' Railroad Workers; All American Carnival Club of Algiers; The Steamer ‘Ceres’; Freetown

No.27 (Jun., 2007) - 1850 Freetown Census; The Chinese Community of Algiers & New Orleans Area

No.28 (Sep., 2007) - Chinese Community (contd.); Firemen’s Parade of 1891; Algiers Fire Companies; “Real Algerine”; “Dis ‘n’ Dat”

No.29 (Dec., 2007) - James JARVIS; Fire in Algiers; Towns Over the River Share in Prosperity; Ferry Specifications, 1866; “French” BROWNLEE; Life on the Sugar Cane Plantations; “Dis ‘n’ Dat”

No.30 (Mar., 2008) - The Music Venues of 19^th Century Algiers, McDonoghville & Gretna; Notable Algerines; Fifth Fire District Companies; “Did ‘n’ Dat”

No.31 (Jun., 2008) - Mount Olivet Church Parishioners (1903); Algiers Music Talk (part 1); La. State Museum Publications; 1849 - Algiers, McDonoghville & Gretna Residents

Among the articles in the pipeline for the “Algerine” are the William HOGAN Jazz Archive interviews recorded for Tulane University of Algiers musicians, including Milton MARTIN, Charlie BOCAGE, Joseph “Kid Twat” BUTLER, Leonard BOCAGE, Norman BROWNLEE, Henry “Red” ALLEN, and Peter BOCAGE. Other interviews include those of Arthur SIMONSON & Jackson MOLAISON, and Ursula MANETTA LEWIS.

We will also be publishing articles on the following, most of which are already written or near completion:

19th & 20th century music and Jazz venues; Saloons of Algiers; 19^th Century City Directory Listings from Algiers, McDonoghville & Gretna; Dolly ADAMS; The African Episcopal Church; ‘Algiers Independent’ newspaper; Henry ALLEN’s Brass Band; First World War volunteers; Algiers music - songs about Algiers; ‘Algiers Press’ newspaper; The ‘Algiers Seven’; BARRETT House; Bert PECK; ‘Black Billy’ Sunday (Rev. Dr. J. Gordon McPHERSON); Bobby MITCHELL; 19th century churches; Mississippi River crevasses; Richard DIXON; Eddie ‘Son’ HOUSE; Edgar MOSLEY; Elk’s Hall; Emmett HARDY; R. Emmett KENNEDY; Father LARKIN; The Great Fire of 1895; John FINLEY and the Crown & Anchor English Pub; the Old Point Bar; Frankie DUSON; Gretna floods; The HUEGET family; Cannon Fired at Algiers; Algiers Football; Plantations of the Lower Coast; Infant Jesus College; 1869 Tax Assessor’s Records; Maps & Plans of Algiers; Gretna Saloon/entertainment licenses, 1889-1916; The KOHLMAN family & hall; The Ku Klux Klan in Algiers; Infant Jesus College; Lord Beaconsfield LANDRY; Louis ARMSTRONG on the West Bank; Love Bandits vs. Wife Beaters; Searching for Obscure Musicians; S. S. Luckenbach; Driving tour of the Lower Coast; 1865 Civil War Tax; The MANETTA family; Mel OTT; Martin BEHRMAN Memorial, Belleville Iron Works; Breweries; The BROOKS Sisters; The DUVERJE Mansion Purchase; The Colored Red Cross; Algiers Little Theater; and Thomas FOX; Murray HENDERSON; The Nighthawks; Old Drug Stores of Algiers; Jimmie PALAO, Eddie VINCENT and the Creole Orchestra;  S. S. President; Pythian Hall; The “Buddy” BOLDEN Years in Algiers; The Second Nazarine Baptist Church; Dr. William RILEY; SAUX Lane; Earl SCHMITT; 19th century schools in Algiers, McDonoghville & Gretna; SEEGER-REES House; Judge William SEYMOUR; “Smoky Mary”; The Civil War; Beka Plantation; Southern Pacific Railroad strike of 1922; Civil War letters of Dan CAMP; The “Cricket” & Buddy BOLDEN; ‘Westside News’ newspaper; CANTIN