1507 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
29.934226,-90.072766
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.
