NO_Ames_Crevasse

The Ames Crevasse of 1891
Just Above New Orleans, West Jefferson Parish

In March of 1891, there was a break in the Mississippi River levee just
above New Orleans and much of neighboring Jefferson Parish was
severely flooded. Most of the photos taken below were taken at the site
of the crevasse, in Gretna, in western Jefferson Parish.

Though work had been conducted steadily for years building levees all
along the banks of the Mississippi River, there were devastating floods
in different areas along the river in 1844, 1850, 1858, 1862, 1865, 1867
and 1874. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been in charge of
keeping the river open for navigation, but in 1879, under the newly
established Mississippi River Commission, it was charged with the
effort to reduce the flooding, though, in actuality, because of
restriction on the part of Congress, its work mainly involved repairing
damaged levees.

By the 1880's, many were questioning the advisability of relying solely
on levees for protection; there were suggestions such as reforestation
of the floodplain, cut-offs to speed up the river's flow and floodways to
divert the flow. All of these were flatly rejected by the MRC, in favor
of "levees only." In 1917, Congress established the Flood Control Act,
under which, new levees were constructed and existing levees were
strengthened.

By 1926, the MRC was feeling more confident about the measures that
had been taken. Then, came the great river flood of 1927. Nancy

Photo by William S. Howell

Photo by George Francois Mugnier

Back to Old New Orleans

Whispers

References: 1) Mississippi River Commission History website
2) "Upon their Shoulders: A History of the Mississippi River Commission
History"

Photo by George Francois Mugnier

Photo by William S. Howell

Photo by George Francois Mugnier

Louisiana, 1927

What has happened down here is the winds have changed, clouds rolled in from the north and it started to
rain;
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time...six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline.
The river rose all day, the river rose all night; some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright.
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines...six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline.

Louisiana, Louisiana, they're tryin' to wash us away, they're tryin' to wash us away,
Louisiana, Louisiana, they're tryin' to wash us away, they're tryin' to wash us away.

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train with a little fat man with a notepad in his hand;
The president say, "Little fat man, isn't it a shame what the river has done to this poor cracker's land."

Louisiana, Louisiana, they're tryin' to wash us away, they're tryin' to wash us away.
Louisiana, Louisiana, they're tryin' to wash us away, they're tryin' to wash us away.

Composed by Randy Newman

Photo by George Francois Mugnier