Archive for the ‘Cypress Grove’ Category

Waves of Cantonese immigrants began coming to New Orleans in the late 1800s, and for sixty years we had a small Chinatown stretching for several blocks around Tulane Avenue. The area prospered, primarily as a commercial district with shops and restaurants all along its length, importing hard to find silks and finery, providing cleaning services for the stiff and oppressive suits of the day, and importing opium. Chinatown was only a few blocks away from Storyville, and dozens of runners brought the opium to the brothels all day and night – both the drug and the prostitution being legal at the time.

During this heyday the Soon On Tong Society tomb was built in Cypress Grove to meet the particular needs of the new population. Opened in July of 1904, the tomb featured iron fences in front and back (now only half a fence remains, in the rear of the tomb), with a prayer altar and fireplace inside.

Prayers were written out and burnt in the fireplace to send them on, and eventually the dead would be disinterred and the remains returned to China, though that practice died out as subsequent generations had deeper ties in America than in their ancestral homeland. As you can see, the altar is still in use today, with candles and incense in evidence.

Those pre-World War II years were difficult for Chinese across the United States, as they were viewed with suspicion and subject to deportation, and while there were cases of questionable deportation in New Orleans conditions here were more welcoming than many other places in the country. Conditions eased when we allied with China against the Japanese, and propaganda posters “explaining” how to tell the difference between the races popped up, showing the Chinese as friendly. Even so, Chinatown was eventually bulldozed in the name of progress, and the citizens scattered settling first in the French Quarter before spreading throughout New Orleans.

I have tried to find out more about the group that built this tomb, but haven’t been able to get very far. “Tong” translates to
“association-” sometimes a secret society, but I haven’t found anything more illuminating. If/when I do, I’ll update the post, and if anyone has more information, I’d love to have it!

Cypress Grove was opened in 1838 specifically for the volunteer firemen and their families. Many surviving family members had their dead disinterred and moved here, once it was in operation.

Located at the very end of Canal, this is one of the smaller cemeteries, but still really interesting. The above is a society tomb originally opened for one of the fire companies, built in 1840. It’s located close to the entrance and is so white it absolutely gleams.