NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District will host a public meeting on February 8, 2012, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, to provide community members the opportunity to comment on long-term management of the Kenner and Kugler Cemeteries Archeological District, which is located within the Bonnet Carré Spillway project site in St. Charles Parish.
"The 1975 operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway inadvertently disinterred remains from the Kenner and Kugler cemeteries," said Chris Brantley, Bonnet Carré Spillway project manager. "This public meeting will provide community members the opportunity to comment on the proposed plans to preserve and interpret these historic properties as well as re-bury the disturbed remains."
The Feb. 8 public meeting is a venue for open communication between the Corps and key stakeholders, including the descendants of those buried in the cemeteries. The Kenner and Kugler Cemeteries Archeological District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The cemeteries were established prior to the Civil War as burial places for enslaved people of African de scent from surrounding plantations. Documentation shows that African-American Civil War veterans of the Union Army are buried in the cemetery. The cemeteries were in use until 1928.
Long-term management of the cemeteries includes re-burial of the remains disturbed during the 1985 Bonnet Carré Spillway opening. The actions described in the plan of the cemeteries constitute an undertaking that will be the subject of Section 106/110 consultation between the Corps and the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer.
Public meeting details are:
When: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Informational Open House to view project details 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
*Note – please notice new public meeting location
Where: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Borromeo Room
13396 River Road; Destrehan, LA 70047
Questions or comments should be addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Public Affairs
PO Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-2201
Fax: 504-862-1724
E-mail: BonnetCarre@usace.army.mil