By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer
Which of these is the newest street name in the 70112 ZIP code?
- Alost Street
- Breedlove Street
- Protection Street
- Madame Tranchepain Street
- Magic Street
- Voltaire Street
Magic Street was chosen during a 2006 weeklong planning charrette held in October 2006. The charrette was part of the planning process for rebuilding the Lafitte public housing complex, and the name was chosen by a group of children from the development.
The other names above came from the New Orleans Public Library. The list, which is available online, has been transcribed from a typewritten volume titled ”Alphabetical Index of Changes in Street Names, Old and New Period 1852 to Current Date, Dec. 1st 1938” compiled by Gray B. Amos as part of a Works Progress Administration project.
One of the more interesting names, Madame Tranchepain translates from French as “Mrs. Slice of Bread,” but it would seem that the street’s name was less about celebrating bread and more to memorialize a remarkable New Orleans resident.
Marie de Tranchepain de Saint Augustine died in New Orleans in 1733. She had emigrated here from France she was responsible for building Ursuline Academy. She also managed an orphan asylum, a school for the poor and a hospital.
The Ursuline Academy still stands; too bad her name has receded from memory.
As for the other names:
Alost Street is a tiny one block long street in eastern New Orleans.
Breedlove Street was a one block long street between College Court and State Street Drive. A map on the city assesor’s website shows that while the street no longer exists, the name still does as a mark through a few back yards.
Protection Street was changed to Monticello Avenue in 1911.
Madame Tranchepain Street was created in 1924 by renaming a portion of Barracks Street, from Taylor Street to Lake Pontchartrain. It couldn’t be easily determined when the good madame lost her street name.
Voltaire Street is “out of duration,” according to the document referenced.
