380. Kit Wohl, part 2

380. Part 2 of our interview with Kit Wohl. This week we talk about her book Iron Lace, author Kit Wohl’s passionate guided tour to the city’s most historic, celebrated, ornate, imaginative and even mysterious iron works that adorn, beautify and protect so many of New Orleans’ most treasured physical properties.
Since the very founding of the city, blacksmiths and iron workers established themselves as essential craftsmen of New Orleans’ most romantic and iconic architectural details. The grape vines, rose clusters, ivy and fleur-de-lis dance along balcony railings and climb our galleries. Whimsical faces of nature peer out from gateposts. Fences take the form of rows of cornstalks in a field. Latticework, filigree, architectural detail and decorative ornamentation. A personal touch or conformist requirement. The prideful flourish of an owner’s initials. An extravagant indulgence or vital security measure. It goes by many names and interpretations, but what the work of the iron foundry men, blacksmiths, craftsmen and artisans has created for the city over three hundred years is, at its essence, a drapery of iron lace meticulously laid out over the fabric of life in this most unique and unusual city.

1. This week in Louisiana history. August 30, 1893. Gov. Huey P. "the Kingfish" Long born in Winnfield.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Monday, August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made its second landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane near Buras-Triumph, Louisiana, with sustained winds of more than 125 mph (205 km/h), although Category 4 winds may have briefly affected the area. Katrina also made landfall in St. Bernard parish and St. Tammany parish as a Category 3 hurricane for a total of three landfalls in Louisiana
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   84th Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival
   
   September 3rd, 2020 - September 7th, 2020

   8:00 am - 11:00 pm
   Downtown Morgan City

   305 Everett St., 715 Second Street,

   Morgan City, LA 70380
   985-385-0703 | Fax
   Website | Email
   Tap your toes & tempt your tastebuds at Louisiana's oldest state-chartered harvest festival. The four-day extravaganza of family entertainment includes continuous live music by local & national acts, a huge arts & crafts show and sale, a Children's Village, the Cajun Culinary Classic, the traditional Blessing of the Fleet and water parade . . . all with no gate fee!
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Maude Caillat and the Afrodiziacs at the Pythian Market, New Orleans.

Listen on iTunes
Listen on Stitcher
Listen on Google Play.
Listen on Google Podcasts.
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on TuneIn.
The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.
Like us on Facebook.