January 29

The Bookmobile
January 29, 1941

TodayInNewOrleansHistory/1941January29Bookmobile.jpg

The Louisiana Library Commission sponsored the operation of a bookmobile manned by Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers to furnish books to New Orleans children. The bookmobile is seen here on January 29, 1941. Photo from the New Orleans Public Library.

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On January 29, 1969, Clay Shaw was brought to trial for conspiring to assassinate President Kennedy.

January 29, 1942 photo of Dr. Grace Langdon of Washington, national WPA specialist in family life education, visits one of the WPA nursery schools. This school is located in the Wisner Playground at 4847 Laurel Street.

Photo of workers opening a sewerage outlet from the Army's new general hospital at the lakefront by extending an 18-inch concrete sewer line for a distance of 1250 feet on Robert E. Lee Boulevard on January 29, 1941. They are tying the line into a manhole and extending it to the hospital site. WPA engineers expect the work to be finished by February 15.

Photo of the WPA built St. John's club house in Ciry Park, constructed at a cost of $85,000 on January 29, 1941. The central section contains a spacious lobby and lounge with a display shop. The old golf house now forms the left wing of the completed structure. It contains lockers for women and an enlarged grill.

A convention of “The Free and Independent Republic of Louisiana” met I New Orleans on January 29, 1861, in the Lyceum Room on the third floor of the City Hall, to discuss the course to be followed by the State. Should Louisiana cast her lot in with the Southern States which had already seceded from the Union? They pointed out the serious perils to Louisiana in the event of war, but the leaders paid little heed to this, and finally were induced to allow delegates to go to Montgomery uninstructed. The convention named George Williamson as Ambassador of Louisiana to Texas. It also authorized the seizure of the United States Mint and the Customhouse of New Orleans. An official act was passed creating a State Army. This was done chiefly upon the insistence of “Dick” Taylor, son of President Zachary Taylor who was a native of New Orleans and a resident of this city. This organization became a part of the military organization of the Confederate States when Louisiana ceased to be a independent political entity and incorporated with the Confederacy. (NOPL)

Photo of the design of a pier to cover the suction pipe of the pump for supplying water to the City of New Orleans, by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, January 29, 1819. The site of the City's first water works is now a French Market pocket park named in honor of the great architect who lost his life in service to the Crescent City.

On January 29, 1796, Chief Constable, Pascalis de la Barrre, suggested that the jail being in his charge, he should live therein in conformity with the law in all the dominions of the Sovereign. He offered to build a house at his own expense in the rear of the jail patio. The Commissioners agreed, with the understanding that he could not rent, sell or mortgage the house, nor have right to the ground on which it is built.