Burrwood, Louisiana

USA / Louisiana / Empire /
 village, third-level administrative division, ghost town, historical layer / disappeared object
This is about where the town of Burrwood, Louisiana once stood. Anyone have anymore info?
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrwood,_Louisiana
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   28°57'58"N   89°22'37"W

Comments

  • The community of Burrwood would have been located within the boundaries of present-day Plaquemines Parish.
  • BURWOOD NAVAL SECTION BASE — Located on the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, Burwood Naval Section Base was established during World War II to watch for enemy ships and submarines in the Gulf of Mexico and to monitor traffic entering the mouth of the river. Construction of the base began in 1941 and the base was placed into commission on December 15, 1941, with Lieutenant Commander N. J. Ashley in command. The Army Corps of Engineers constructed a water tower approximately 120 ft. in height with a platform atop the tank which supported another smaller tower 75 ft. high. The smaller tower supported a yardarm (crossbeam) similar to that of a ship from which signal lights and signal flags could be hoisted to communicate with approaching ships (thereby maintaining radio silence). Inbound vessels were inspected prior to proceeding upriver to New Orleans and Baton Rouge. In 1942, the U.S. Army set up heavy artillery pieces (mobile howitzers) on either side of the river at Burwood. The guns had a range of approximately nine miles. The Army also set up a second watch tower on the South Pass near Port Eads. The base's heavy duty docks were capable of supporting not only pilot boats and civilian tugs and dredges, but also patrol craft, sub chasers, minesweepers, PT boats, and vessels as large as destroyers. Vessels staging out of Burwood participated in almost every rescue operation along the central Gulf Coast during the height of the U-boat threat in 1942.
  • I was stationed at USN base,Burrwood,LA Sept-November 1942, waiting for assignment to sea. During that period German subs surfaced and sank several ships. The port of New Prleamns was closed for a couple of days, no ships in or out, while emergency efforts to save vsurvivors were underway. Gene Tepper,
  • yes! my dad/his mom had a commisary (of sorts), my bio grandmother taught school. I went out to see the flag raised ev A.M. Also the ride to the island in my uncles mail boat. i was conceive in Burwood. GREAT MEMORIES! In Buras the men walked the levee watching for subs (saw them). gail jones/buck jones
  • Sorry I came to this so late. Burrwood and discussions of it played an important part in my formative years. My parents lived in Burrwood from 1938-1943. I was born "off island" in New Orleans in 1940 and my sister in Burrwood in 1943, delivered by a Navy doctor. Dad, a Louisiana native, was with the Army Corps of Engineers. I found Mom's many letters home to Ohio after her death (her mother saved them all) and recently copied them for the family. Wonderful detail of everyday life in Burrwood at that time. My Dad's brother worked for the U.S. Weather Dept. in the 1950s and lived in Burrwood with his wife and 7 children. We visited them there from Ohio twice. So sorry it is disappearing due to erosion. Marla Wise Heideloff (parents were Jerry and Nita Wise).
  • I lived in Burrwood, LA 1947-1948. My dad was in the U.S. Coast Guard and was transferred to Burrwood as the lighthouse keeper. Mr. & Mrs. Johnson were the prior lighthouse keepers, but am not sure if he was a civilian or a military person. My brother and I were only 6 and 7 during that time. We actually lived on the west side of the river where the lighthouse was located across from the island of Burrwood. There was a long plank boardwalk from the edge of the river leading up to the lighthouse itself. There were 3 houses built up on pilings out of the marsh. The steps on our porch led to the plank boardwalk. There was no grass or land to play on. Also went to school across the river (approx. 2 miles by boat) in a 2 room school house. One teacher taught 1st - 5th grade and the principal taught 6th - 8th. I was told that after eight grade you had to go to school up-river maybe in the town of Venice or Port Sulphur. For safety reasons if the weather was bad we did'nt have to go to school. A supply boat would come down once a week and bring what supplies or food was needed. Don't recall having a doctor on the island but do know there was a nurse because I received stitches when I cut my arm. There was some kind of store on the island where my brother would get his hair cut.
  • Any chance you could provide some of the "everyday life" details in your mother's letters?
  • what was your grandmother's name. I lived across the river from Burrwood where the lighthouse was located from 1947-1948 and went to school on the island of Burrwood when i was in the first grade. My dad was in the Coast Guard and was the lighthouse keeper there. I do remember the commissary which seemed to be near the school house and also the mail boat coming. No cars or roads on island that i remember and that seemed so odd to a young child.
  • My great grandpa used to cut hair on the island. His name was Melvin Mayer.also nicknamed bean .... my dad was Melvin Mayer Jr. And his mom and sister were Estelle
  • Sorry my grand pa lol
  • My grandmother Shirley Russell lived there several years as a child and I believe she taught school for a year or two as well. I cannot imagine what life was like on the southwest pass! Thanks to all for sharing your stories.
  • Hi guys, my mom and dad grew up in Burrwood. My dad was Cleveland (Pete ) Mayer and his parents were Adolph Mayer and his mom was Sylvia Scarabin. My mom is Patricia Buelle Mayer. Her parents were Edward Buelle and her mom Gertrude Smith Buelle. They were first and only loves.I know I got a lot of kin out there. Hey and love you guys.
  • Hello, my name is Teri and I am trying to find out more information regarding the history of the light house. According to some of my late Mother's ancestry records, her Uncle Jacob Hansen was also a lighthouse keeper in Burrwood. Supposedly, he lived in the lighthouse with his wife. I couldn't say what year or years this took place, but I do have a very old post card with a painting of the lighthouse on front that I would love to show and share! Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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This article was last modified 7 years ago