Joseph Laurent

Joseph Laurent grew-up near the city of New Orleans, in a small community on the bayou known as “Bonfouca”.

With his savings from years of trading and bartering, Joseph built a modest trading post on the edge of Bayou Bonfouca. He became an integral part of their community, earning their trust and loyalty. As time passed, the people that settled in Bonfouca, Frenchmen, native Americans, Africans and Spanish were all drawn by its natural beauty. Together with Joseph this community created a vibrant little village that flourished along the banks of the bayou Liberty. With his trusty boat the Marguerite, Joseph set sail on countless journeys back and forth across the lake. He would load up his ship with goods from local settlers fruits, vegetables, livestock anything that could be sold in this thriving city. In return, he brought back manufactured goods that were hard to come by in their small village.

In order to turn Marguerite around for another trip quickly and efficiently, Joseph utilized a wide part of bayou near his store as an impromptu turning point. It was this spot that became known as “Laurent’s Turn” among locals.

But in 1794 disaster struck. A great fire ravaged through New Orleans’ French Quarter, leaving hundreds homeless and destitute. The Spanish government stepped in to offer loans for rebuilding, but with one catch strict building codes must be followed to prevent future fires.

The new regulations required buildings over one story tall to be made out of nonflammable materials such as bricks or plaster with tile roofs. They also had to be attached to each other closely with no gaps between them creating what is now known as “firewalls”.

As fate would have it though, this disaster presented an opportunity for Joseph. With brick-making skills passed down from generations before him and rich red clay found right at home in bayou nearby; he saw potential where others only saw ruins.

And so began another venture for our fearless sailor turned entrepreneur – brick making! Using Marguerite herself as transport vessel for these bricks; Laurent’s Trading Post quickly became a hub of activity once again.

Joseph Laurent’s Planation today, is Camp Salman State Park it is owned by St. Tammany Parish Government has placed it on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors can still view remnants of his clay pit and imagine the bustling trade that took place there so long ago.