Stories from Camp-A-Nella
I don't want these memories to be lost just as surely as I don't want to see the end of the camps. And along with the memories we may find pictures, stories, and documents about the camps. If we can put them all together we will have a wonderful record of these culturally historic places. With this record we hope to "Save Our Camps!" by acquiring Historic Landmark Status.

I believe that too much of what made New Orleans such a wonderful place to live is now gone and I know that many of you agree. One of the things (and there are too many to count) that makes New Orleans so unique and culturally rich is that we have the good sense to accept "the new" (when it fits our needs) while we love and embrace "the old".

PLACES have always been important to us. I sometimes think that we're known for greeting friends with "Where Y'at" instead of "Hello" because "Where we ARE" is so special. Each time we lose one of the old and cherished places--places we took for granted because they were always there before--we become less New Orleans and more "Anywhere, USA".

I invite you to add your family stories as well as any photos and documents you might have to help "Save Our Camps".

Cathy Campanella

In August of 1945 my uncle Jake Knower was finally coming home from the War. He had been captured by the Germans and spent two years in Stalag 17. When my family found out that Jake was on his way home Mr. August (a family friend) offered his camp to us so that we could all gather together to celebrate Uncle Jake's homecoming.
The camp was at Hayne Boulevard and Gannon Road.

During our week at the camp, my cousin Richard and I were out swimming in the lake when my grandmother, Augusta "Gussie" Boesch Knower, started "waving the towel"--which was her signal for us to come back inside the camp. We didn't want to go in and Richard said "Turn around and pretend you don't see her" but she was waving pretty seriously so we went on into the camp. The adults were all hugging and kissing and Uncle Jake was especially happy because the news had just come over the radio that the War was over.

Richard and I spent the rest of the day running out to passing trains full of soldiers, yelling "The War is Over! The War is Over!"

Meredith Knower Campanella

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