Sun Oak provides the opportunity to experience the 20th century Renaissance of Creole New Orleans.  Located in Faubourg Marigny, this National Registered District was developed in 1806 by  the grandest Creole, Marquis Bernard de Marigny from
his vast plantation just below the Vieux Carré at  Eplanade Avenue .

Post Katrina New Orleans

When we left Sun Oak as Katrina made landfall, we left the house and gardens in Blessed Father Seelos' hands. Many miracles are attributed to Father Seelos. He needs one more miracles to be declared a saint. I doubt if saving an old historic house will count toward his canonization, but for us it was a miracle. In gratitude, we renamed the Garden, the Father Seelos Memorial Garden. In the dedication blessing with a myriads of friends, Father Byron Miller showed Father Seelos's wit and humor, "Gene and Lloyd will do anything to have a party!"...only in New Orleans.

Post katrina New Orleans is no longer the "Big Easy" We feel like Scarlett O'Hara after the Civil War...taxes and insurance are skyhigh but we have no cotton to pick ...and we used Sun Oak's portieres for our Mardi Gras costumes.There is no political leadership and we are being "sold down the River" to carpetbaggers and developers. Insurance, taxes and repairs are exorbitant.We have been forced to close the Guest House and rent it as an apartment to pay the bills and save the Plantation. Luckily, our tenant is a delightful preservationists who came to help New Orleans' comback and has now found her place in the sun at Sun Oak.

Gene has been on almost every committee developed to save New Orleans and its unique and special qualities of life.There is only one New Orleans and it seems that so many people have come to help which is good, but too many others have come to fill their coffers and turn her into another version of South Beach.  As are wonderful guardian angel Martha Robinson said; "Preservation is eternal vigilance"

Photo by Larry Graham
www.grahamstudioone.com