406. Maddie Lafuse on Marie Laveau

406. Maddie Lafuse talks to us about Marie Laveau. Part 1. Marie Laveau was a Louisiana Creole practitioner of Voodoo, herbalist and midwife who was renowned in New Orleans. Her daughter, Marie Laveau II, (1827–c. 1862) also practiced rootwork, conjure, Native American and African spiritualism as well as Louisiana Voodoo.

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 27, 1827. New Orleans kicks off its first Mardi Gras. A group of masked and costumed students dance through the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, marking the restart of the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations after the Spanish had outlawed them.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Mardi Gras Day was cancelled on February 27, 1979 due to the New Orleans Police strike. Some Orleans Parish parades were rescheduled in Jefferson Parish.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Otis House at Fairview-Riverside State Park
   Learn about the history of 19th century Madisonville entrepreneur while walking the grounds of a magnificent state park.William Theodore Jay was a 19th century entrepreneur who made a fortune in sawmilling. He also had fine taste when it came to real estate, since he sited his home, today called the Otis House, on a particularly beautiful bend in the Tchefuncte River. The surrounding property is known as Fairview-Riverside State Park. Jay had what would become known as the Otis House constructed in 1885, at a time when New Orleans was undergoing a growth spurt and needed lumber for home construction. Living on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Jay created a sawmill empire in the town of Madisonville and built a home that reflects his success. The home featured twelve-foot-high ceilings, wraparound verandas on the first and second floors, and heart pine floors, all of which visitors can see in their restored beauty today.
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Shawan Rice sings on Royal Street.

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