Camp Nicholls
Submitted by Maurice Duvic Sr

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Netters:  I BELIEVE, somewhere along Bayou St. John, where Alfred talks
about - between Esplanade and the Southern Ry tracks - during WWII the
U.S. Navy, I believe, built some barracks-looking apartment buildings
for married personnel    assigned to the Navy station on the lake-front.
(I believe DeSaix Blvd was developed  right after WW II.)

               After the war these apartments were rented to veterans.
Around l947-48 whichever government agency owned the property with the
apartments, gave eviction notices to the occupying veterans. These
veterans, for "effect", formed an American Legion Post that was open
only to veterans who were eligible for "G.I." loans - 4%.  This group
used this  eligibility to get a loan to purchase four squares of
"swamp', lakeside of Mirabeau and bayou-side of Paris Avenue - on which
they  built approximately l00 homes, "Legion Oaks" , later "Legion Oaks
Number One."

Those veterans - American Legionaires! - who were not in the first
hundred, followed the same procedure on four squares beyond Prentiss
Avenue.   Diocesan property - St. Cabrini and the convent (St.
Joseph's?)  were  between the two tracts.  These hundred-or-so homes
were completed in about l952.
"Legion Oaks Number Two."

The bayou side of  the open Paris Avenue Canal  was swamp and the "cow
path' along the canal was impassable in "damp" weather!

The lots cost approx. $l,250.00 and the houses about $l2,000.00.  Most
have had considerable  improvements  since.

Talking about swamps:  Christmastime, l949, I attended a party at the
home of a friend on De Saix.  As I walked back the driveway I noticed
that the garden hose was " running.".  When I called this to the
attention of my friend he said, "Oh, that's alright, I have the house
advertised for sale and I'm "floating up" the foundation piers so their
tops will be up to the sills if I have a prospect coming to see the
house!"