AREA’S FIRST CITY PLANNERS DEVELOPED PORT ORLEANS FAMOUS CITY STREETS OF TODAY!

The years passed in Port Orleans with slow progress. The French government was busy putting down large scale rebellions throughout the French West Indies which threatened their tobacco and sugar industries. Once again the responsibility of developing the territory in North America was left to private individuals.

Pierre d’Orr and Philip Leane, intent on creating the planned city of their fathers’ dreams, became acquainted with René and Robert Bonhomme, two skilled artists and laborers from the Canadian province of Quebec, who had come to the city hungry for the challenge and warmer climates that were available in Port Orleans.

René and Robert Bonhomme found the Port with nothing more than an odd gathering of cabins in a vast wilderness of marshes and bayous. Encouraged by Pierre and Philip, they worked together to plan a proper city. René used his skills in architecture to draw plans for the city. Robert used his talent as a salesman to enlist the support of bankers to finance the project. With the powerful combination of the Bonhommes, the city streets of Port Orleans soon began stretching out throughout the delta.

Article quoted from the Sassagoula Sentinel, circa 1994