Marceljack

Jackson Avenue Gargoyle

There are always very interesting sights to be seen in New Orleans. While walking to the Irish Channel St. Paddy's Day parade last weekend, we saw this rea...
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There are always very interesting sights to be seen in New Orleans. While walking to the Irish Channel St. Paddy's Day parade last weekend, we saw this really creepy gargoyle hanging off the side of a building at 709 Jackson Avenue. As it turns out, the building was constructed in 1867 as a synagogue, but later served as a school, office building, and as of 2012, was converted into apartments. While historically, gargoyles on buildings were used as gutter spouts to direct water from rooftops (originates from old French "gargouille," which was derived from Latin "gurgula," meaning "throat or gullet"), this one was placed when a third floor was added, and its purpose was to protect the new windows from vandals.
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