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300 NEW ORLEANS TRICENTENNIAL 171 8 ~ 201 8 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION KNOWLA COURTESY BROCATO’S Between 1880 and 1910 the state brought hundreds of Italian men from Naples, Tri- este and Palermo to replace the African- American laborers after the Civil War. The Italian population flourished in the fol- lowing years, as many became merchants and entrepreneurs. “Macaroni” factories were built around the city to make pasta. But the Italians weren’t always welcomed. One of the city’s darkest moments came in the 1890s after then-Police Chief David Hen- nessey was assassinated. Hennessey had planned to shut down the Italian mafia in the city, the Provenzano and the Matranga families, which were at war. After Hennessey’s murder, 19 Italians were arrested. Six of the men were acquitted following the first trial, and many in the city went mad with outrage at what they felt was injustice. On March 14, 1891, a mob charged the parish prison, shot nine and lynched two others who had been charged in the crime. The incident strained diplomatic relations with Italy and intro- duced the rest of the United States to the Italian “mafia.” After World War II, most Italians moved out of the city into the suburbs, including Kenner. The Piazza d’ Italia was built in New Orleans Central Business District in 1978 to honor Italians’ contribution to the city. So many Italians lived in the French Quarter in the early 20th century, the Vieux Carré earned the nicknames “Little Italy” and “Little Palermo” for the number of Italians, and more specifically, Sicilians, who lived there., Angelo Brocato opened his first storefront in the 500 block of Ursulines Street where Italians would come every morning for lemon ice. There were so many Italians living and working in the French Quarter that it earned the name Little Palermo.’ The Piazza d’ Italia was built in New Orleans Central Business District in 1978 to honor Italians’ contribution to the city. A picture of ‘Italian headquarters’ on Madison Street in 1905, across from the French Market. The building on the right was home to Begue’s, now Tujague’s. Between 1850 and 1870, New Orleans had the largest Italian-born population in the United States. After New Orleans Po- lice Chief David Hen- nessey was allegedly assassinated by the Italian mafia, a group of citizens lynched and killed 11 Italians. The incident strained relations between the U.S. and Italy. From Bienville to Bourbon Street to bounce. 300 moments that make New Orleans unique. On March 14, 1891, a mob of New Orleans citizens charged the parish prison and shot nine and lynched two Italians. WHAT HAPPENED
