Preservation Hall - New Orleans, LA (The True House of Blues)

726 St. Peters St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.95829,-90.065392

www.preservationhall.com 

            New Orleans is, without a doubt, known for being the birthplace of jazz, which is one of my personal favorite genres. Local legends such as Fats Domino, Dr. John and Louis Armstrong has ensured that this unique style of music will live on forever. New Orleans is filled with small jazz lounges where locals and tourists alike can enjoy some great local music. The most famous of these venues is none other than the historic Preservation Hall. For years, famed jazz musicians from all over the world consider it a true honor to perform here. Looking at the interior and exterior of this time-weathered building is like looking at an old photograph of days gone by. Every piece of furniture in this establishment, along with the photos on the walls, look like they have been there from the day the building was constructed. There is no stage, no high-tech lighting, and the audience members sit on folding chairs. As one can see, it’s not the amenities that keep Preservation Hall packed every night of the week; it’s the magic made inside the doors by its performers.
            The land that the hall sits on was cleared sometime in the mid to late 1700’s. Records indicate that Antoine Faisendieu bought this plot of land from Guillermo Gros in 1803 and built a tavern, selling it in 1809 to Pierre and Barthelemy Jourdain. I have been unable to confirm it, but I wonder if this is the same Pierre Jourdain who later killed himself after losing his home in a card game? In case you don’t remember, this home later became Muriel’s Restaurant. The dates match up perfectly so it could very well have been him. It’s quite amazing how the more I write about New Orleans history, the more I begin to see how the same elite names continue to pop up.

            Adjacent to the saloon was the Orleans Ballroom. In 1816, the ballroom burnt down, taking much of the saloon with it. The charred remains were purchased by architects Gurlie and Guillot who, in turn, sold the area to Agathe Fanchon in 1817. Ms. Fanchon would live here for many years,

Photo of the building taken around 1900.

eventually selling the home in 1866 and would pass through several other private owners’ hands throughout the early twentieth century.
            By the 1950’s, the building was being used as a small art gallery known as Associated Artist. The manager of the gallery, Larry Borenstein, was a huge fan of jazz music. At the time, the music was beginning to fade from the mainstream and local enthusiasts were trying their hardest to revitalize jazz throughout the city. With jazz venues few and far between, Borenstein decided to start having local jazz musicians such as George Lewis, Punch Miller and Sweet Emma Barrett come and perform at the gallery. News spread quickly and people began to come from miles around to hear the addictive music.
            While on an extended honeymoon, a young couple from Pennsylvania named Allan and Sandra Jaffe encountered the venue and became so enamored with this style of music, they permanently moved to New Orleans. The gallery became so successful as a concert hall, the actual

The stage of Preservation Hall is as authentic as it gets.

artwork was moved to a next door studio. With Borenstein unable to tend to both businesses, he handed the music hall down to the jazz-obsessed Jaffe’s, who had now moved in to a small carriage house to the rear of the building. As time went on, Allan believed the success of both the Hall and its mission of preservation would require these local bands to tour, and in 1963, he organized the newly named Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a string of performances around the country. The rest is history, as the band continues to draw huge attention and the current Preservation Hall is a coveted New Orleans treasure.
            As the years of amazing performances have literally etched the inner shell of Preservation Hall with pure history, it seems that the energy and spirits of the long lost musicians also have absorbed into these walls. Those who have stayed here during off hours, strongly feel that the building is haunted by former performers and employees. An investigation has never been done here and we came very close to obtaining one, however when a monetary figure was given to us for an overnight rental, the amount was just a little too much for us to swing. Until then, the spirits of Preservation Hall’s beloved performers from the past can continue to play their funky phantom beats once the doors close for the night.