Faubourg Marigny: The Beginning

Bernard Xavier Phillippe De Marigny De Mandeville is one of the great personalities of New Orleans history.  The Story of Bernard Marigny is another one of those piteous sagas of the rich man’s son who was denied nothing.  His story ran the usual course; Bernard Marigny ended with nothing.  Even in adversity and penniless poverty he ended his days as he began them-The Greatest Creole of them all!

In 1800 when his father died, Bernard Marigny was the richest fifteen-year-old lad in America.   Bernard was willful, head strong and wild and Uncle De Lino de Chalmette shipped him to London where he learned some English, with an accent he never lost; and a game played with two dice, which he seldom won.

Upon his return with the two dice, everyone whom Marigny taught his game beat him playing it- and Marigny taught everyone in town!  This game became known as craps.

When he was eighteen, his uncle turned over the books and in 1808, at twenty years old, Bernard applied for permission to subdivide part of his inherited plantation.  In the Faubourg Marigny, which resulted, Bernard named the streets.  One of them, on which he is said to have lost numerous lots playing his beloved game, he impishly labeled Rue de Craps. (Now Burgundy Street)

Strikingly is revealed the character of Bernard Maringy in the names he selected for the streets in this early suburb of New Orleans:  Peace, History, Poets, Music, Victory, Greatmen, Craps, Love and Good Children to name a few.

Craps which contributed much to the financial ruin of Marigny, also ruined his picturesque street nomenclature.  City Ordinance Number 395 of November 20, 1850 changed the name of Rue de Craps to Burgundy. The petition was circulated and the city council acted, renaming 75 streets in New Orleans.  So Marigny’s whimsically names streets that ran parallel to the river took the names of the corresponding streets in the French Quarter.  Fortunately, we are still graced with many of Marigny’s whimsical names.  So take a minute to appreciate Marigny for his whimsy and humor when you venture from Maison Grace and walk around the neighborhood bearing his name!

Adapted: Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children: . . . and Other Streets of New Orleans! By John Chase