St. Vincent's Guest House - New Orleans, LA (The City's Guardian Angel)

1507 Magazine St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.934226,-90.072766

www.stvguesthouse.com

            By the early to mid-1800's, the Yellow Fever epidemic was running rampant across the United States, especially in the city of New Orleans. This acute disease spread by mosquitos virtually had no cure at the time and the death toll was staggering and steadily climbing. The disease showed no discrimination, as children and adults of all races were equally affected. As the death toll rose, especially in adults, more and more children were left behind as orphans with no one to tend to them. Local churches tried their best to accommodate the kids, causing a rise in local orphanages.
            One of the major organizations that were tasked with the duty of providing care for these orphans were the Daughters of Charity. In 1861, the St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum was constructed on Magazine Street and was able to offer shelter and education to the steadily increasing number of children who were left to fend for themselves. Funds were limited for the orphanage and things quickly began to look grim for the institution until a savior appeared that would soon become a guardian angel to the city.

            Margaret Gaffney was born in 1813 and came from a very poor family in Ireland. Attempting to make a better life for themselves, her family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. When Margaret was only nine years old, both her parents died of Yellow Fever, leaving her to survive on her own. Until

A savior for many, Margaret Gaffney Haughery.

adulthood, Margaret would learn of the many hardships associated with being an orphan and vowed to offer whatever assistance she could to others in the same predicament. In 1835, at age twenty-one, Margaret married Irish-born Charles Haughery and the couple moved to New Orleans. Over time, Margaret Haughery had become quite the philanthropist, growing to be quite successful, especially coming from such poor upbringings. At the early age of twenty-three, Margaret would once again, lose everything she had, as her husband and young child would also die of Yellow Fever. More determined than ever to assist those who were victims of the disease, she began offering her time and money to St. Vincent's Orphanage.
            While working at a nearby hotel as a laundress, Margaret began visiting the orphanage, assisting with the care of the young children and even donating some of her earnings from doing laundry. She expanded her aid by putting in more and more hours at the home while also collecting

Some of the orphanage's first tenants.

additional food for the kids. With her keen business sense, she began soliciting financial aid and sponsorship from some of the local businesses, which was an incredible help. Seeing how successful and dedicated Margaret had become, the Daughters of Charity decided to award her with an administrative position at the orphanage.
            Margaret would take things a step further by purchasing two cows for the orphanage to supply it with milk, selling the excess. She would load up the extra milk in a small cart and take it down to the Vieux Carre, where she would sell it. As she would go door to door, she would also attempt to obtain any leftover food the private residences and the businesses may have had, bringing whatever extras she could back to the children. As her finances improved, she became a shareholder, and eventually the owner of a small bakery, she would simply call Margaret's Bakery.
            Years of diligence, savvy business sense and kind-heartedness would ultimately make Margaret not only a hero in the local community but also a wealthy woman. Widely known as “Our Margaret,” “The Bread Woman of New Orleans" and “Mother of Orphans,” dear Margaret would continue her goodwill even to soldiers during the Civil War, providing food to them when they were in need as well. It is uncertain as to how many lives she affected over the years with her kindness, but I am sure the figures were astronomical. Before her death in 1882, Margaret Haughery would be responsible for building St. Elizabeth Orphan Asylum, the Louise Home for girls, St. Vincent Infant Asylum and an asylum and church on Erato Street that became St. Teresa of Avila Church.


Monument erected in memory of Ms. Margaret.

            Her death was a travesty for the city, as thousands mourned the loss of this incredible woman with a heart as big as New Orleans itself. To return the favor, a huge funeral procession was given in Margaret's honor. Just to show you her status amongst the community, her pallbearers consisted of two Lieutenant Governors of Louisiana, New Orleans mayor Benjamin Flanders and the Archbishop Napoléon-Joseph Perché! She would die a fairly wealthy woman, but even in her death, her goodwill would continue, as she would ultimately donate thousands of dollars to six orphan asylums and two asylums for single mothers. The largest portion of her donation would go to her beloved St. Vincent's Orphanage. She would leave all of her wealth to charities with the exception of the bakery, which she bequeathed to her foster son, Bernard Klotz. Today, a statue of Margaret Haughery sits in her honor on a small section of grass, simply called Margaret's Place, where Clio Street intersects with Prytania and Camp Streets.

            The orphanage would continue to operate for many years to come, also accommodating single mothers and their children. The orphanage would ultimately shut down in the mid-1970's and would sit abandoned for several decades. In 1994, the building was purchased and remodeled, transforming it into the present-day St. Vincent's Guest House. The guest house is actually considered more of a hostel, offering little amenities other than an affordable no-frills place to stay for transient travelers on a strict budget. One thing that is pretty cool is on top of the carriage house is a bell tower with a unique sculpture hanging from it. Designed by sculptor Thomas Randolf Morrison, it is called “New Orleans Gargoyle” and consists of a demonic-

Strange gargoyle statue atop the roof of the guesthouse.
Photo courtesy of www.billchance.org

looking creature holding a severed head! Definitely something you wouldn't traditionally see hanging from the Bourbon Orleans or Le Pavillon!
            Not knocking the guest house but, as I said, this isn't the place to go if you are wanting monogramed his and hers bath robes with an on-site masseuse. Some of the décor may be outdated and in need of some repair but this only adds to the ambience, especially when you find out that there is a great deal of haunted activity here. As creepy as the idea of a standard haunting is, the thought of children ghosts takes the spook factor to a whole new level and this place is full of them! The St. Vincent's Guest House is said to be haunted by many of the young children who died here of Yellow Fever over the years. Their hauntings are very prominent, as guests and staff have seen the apparitions of these young children as well as hearing them run and play on adjacent floors. Some guests have even reported waking up to the incredible sight of spectral children sitting on their beds or tugging on the sheets. Fortunately, the young children that reside here are said to be in good spirits, no pun intended! In a home that was filled with so much care and love, it is settling to know that these playful spirits are at ease, possibly still being taken care of by “Our Margaret.”