Slidell - The Building of a Railroad - The Building of a City
© Dan Ellis
It might be said that the city of Slidell was born because New Orleans needed a railroad to the north and east - a case of being the right place at the right time. However, it must further be said, that the Slidell area's strategic location was used for many years as a gateway to the Gulf Coast.
Holders of French, British and Spanish land grant owners, as well as later American homesteaders, occupied the region during the 1700s and early 1800s. This north-shore haven provided them with access to both, New Orleans and the Gulf coast, for ports of trading forest products, cattle, and wild game in exchange for necessary supplies.
This resulted in an early inland settlement on the banks of Bayou Bonfouca, called Roberts's Landing. From there, boats traveled into Lake Pontchartrain, and then south to New Orleans or east to the Gulf coast.
Finding a Site
Following the close of the Civil War, in 1868, George Ingram organized the "Mandeville and Sulphur Springs Railroad Company." Due to Ingram's death in 1870, the Charter was acquired by Captain William H. Hardy who changed the name to "New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad Company" and began planning a new route between New Orleans and Meridian, MS.
After a decade of difficulties, in 1880, the St. Tammany Farmer reported: "Able engineers have pronounced it practicable to build a line directly across Lake Pontchartrain, about 22 miles". In May 1881, the same paper reported that the preliminary survey had been completed and that the railroad would cross Lake Pontchartrain to Mandeville by crossing the lake on a trestle.
Ultimately, the project included 21 miles of trestlework with 16 miles of approaches that required creosote treatment to all the pilings, cross-ties, and bridge timbers. This necessitated a creosote works being constructed near-to-water access and being proximate to the proposed rail-line roadways. Thus, another route change was made with the decision to build the railroad tracks through the eastern part of the parish where land acquisitions were cheaper in addition to access to an inland harbor on Bayou Bonfouca where a creosote plant could be accomodated. Contracts were let all along the proposed route between New Orleans and Meridian creating a continuing requirement for creosote processed products. Contracts were also let for the bridge across the Pearl River and other bayous and streams.
Robert's Landing
Overall, this resulted in an early inland settlement at Robert's Landing on the banks of Bayou Bonfouca. Reportedly the ferry crossing was located just behind the present railroad station. Early commerce took place there with the import and export of lumber, cattle and wildgame in exchange for needed supplies. With the entrance of increasing numbers of railroad employees, Robert's Landing became the headquarters site for the work crews.
