New Orleans 1890s

This block on Royal Street in New Orleans, photographed in 1902, shows some examples of the wrought-iron grillwork, stone masonary, and carpentry of black craftsman.

New Orleans - family address 1809 Perdido

New Orleans directory - family address 1809 Perdido

The family lived together as one

New Orleans - family address 723 Gayoso

   Charles P. Gaines death devastated the family, especially his wife Theresa Gaines, leaving the family in financial misfortunes and despair. The loving  caring and hard working family man, who provided a strong Creole home, had passed away from pneumonia seven days before his wife birthday.

Interments  from 1901-1953 of burials are filed under number mf LMB430 

   Financial hardship and unfortunate events came upon the family during and after, Charles P. Gaines illness and death. He was buried in the New Orleans public city cemetery in 1922. 

   Many family members felt a major lost and sadness. They very rarely spoke of the events of his illness, death, burial and kept much of it as a secret.

Charles P. Gaines 1865-1922

REST IN PEACE.

   Once a small town cemetery for for early settlers and famous prominent local families. In 1879, the city opened the below ground cemetery as an alternative means to be used for burial of people who was unfortunate. The city ceased serving this function in late 1960s and the cemetery became dominated by plots maintained by the deceased families, many of the plots are unmarked graves.

   Holt Cemetery is likely named after a Dr. Joseph Holt from Charity Hospital. The cemetery is the final resting place for a large number of military war veterans. It's also,  the resting place for several known musicians Buddy Bolden, the KING of JAZZ, Jessie Hill and Robert Charles.

   From 1900 through 1970s millions of blacks left the south, moved north and out west. It was caused by poor economic and social conditions created by racism and Jim Crow laws of segregation. White Racism which started in Europe and transported to America by the British government idealism of racial purity.  

   The Gaines family left Louisiana shortly after the death of Charles P. Gaines.

They moved to Harlem NY during the Harlem Renaissance and enjoyed the prosperity of the new economic and social conditions. 

   Harlem was the center of cultural revival for people of color, music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics and scholarship. 

   In 1929 the stock market crashed and became the  beginning of the Great depression, bringing racial tensions of the south to the north.

   Riots caused by police brutality and discrimination by whites started the civil rights and black power movements in NYC, which help change the political direction of  America.