Church History - Before the 20th Century

BEFORE THE 20TH CENTURY

Our story begins about 5000 years ago. The area that we call Marrero today was formed

when glaciers melted, flooded the Gulf of Mexico, spilled northward, and then receded

leaving sediment deposits of soft sand and mud. Over thousands of years, these low wet

areas evolved into lakes, bayous, grasslands and forests that rested between the Gulf of

Mexico and what we now know as Lake Pontchartrain.

Thick plant life thrived because of the wet soil and the hot, humid semi-tropical climate.

This area grew thick with grasses, shrubs, palms and cypress birds, mammals, marine life,

and insects.

Indians were drawn to the vacinity to hunt fish and use the land to support their way of life.

Later they traded with French and Spanish adventurers who passed through the area

in-route to New Orleans settlement to the northeast.

After 1699, some dry lands were cleared and French settlers with the help of Negro

and Indian slaves filled wet areas. They built small plantations to graze their livestock,

grow crops and then ship them up and down the Mississippi River. In 1762, France turned

the region over to Spain. In 1803, however Spain returned the area under French control,

which lasted for only 20 days. The historic "Louisiana Purchase" put the area under the

control of the United States, but it kept its French - Spanish - Creole culture.

In years that followed, immigrants who were mostly Germans controlled the land.

Through the 1800's and the early 1900's the people here incurred the effects of storms,

floods, the growth of New Orleans, diseases and the Civil War. Negro slaves and

Chinese cheap-laborers were brought in to farm the land for sugar cane and rice, and

to work in the prosperous fishing and shipping industries. In the 1890's Italians came

looking for a better life. They made their living by grazing livestock and doing various

crafts.

By 1863, Belgian and German missionaries established mission stations at various

locations along the Westbank. These priests would celebrate mass and administer the

sacraments to the people who were mostly Catholic.

In 1917 Fr. Peter Wynhoven became the pastor of St. Joseph in Gretna. He had set up

various mission stations along the Westbank.