Have you ever heard whispers of a place called Fisher’s Field? Not the tranquil field you might imagine. This Fisher’s Field was once the site of the William J Fischer Housing Development better known as the Fischer Projects. Right here in Algiers stood a 13-floor high-rise and fourteen 3-floor units. It was built in 1964 and opened in 1965. It sprawled across 48 acres adjacent to the Mississippi River Bridge. Isolated by the bridge Donner Canal and a railroad line Fisher’s Field became a place of shadows.
Fisher’s Field wasn’t always infamous. Initially it offered hope. The scattered site method of construction created large park areas. These occupied 60% of the land. It housed families and the elderly. Two elementary schools Murray Henderson and William J Fischer Elementary even thrived there. This vibrant community however was slowly consumed by darkness.
Starting in the 1970s violence became Fisher’s Field’s grim signature. Murders escalated. The most notorious involved the death of police officer Gregory Neupert. His murder ignited a tragic chain of events. Police retaliated resulting in the deaths of four black men. This sparked outrage and accusations of police brutality. The Algiers 7 the indicted officers became a symbol of this conflict. Fisher’s Field became synonymous with fear. Fear permeated the residents’ lives. Nighttime bus service ceased. Gunfire echoed through the courtyards. Innocent lives were lost. The murders of nursing student Jo Ellen Smith and Claudette McGowan and her child stand as chilling testaments to this era.
The Fischer Projects were more than just a place of crime though. They were homes. They held memories. They represented the struggles of a community forgotten and neglected. Even in the midst of violence life went on. Children went to school. Families tried to create a sense of normalcy. But the weight of crime and fear cast a long shadow.
By the early 2000s the Housing Authority of New Orleans HANO began a difficult redevelopment project. The high-rise was imploded in 2004. The low-rise buildings followed. The demolition marked the end of an era. It was also the beginning of a new chapter for Fisher’s Field. Today it houses new low-income units. Yet the echoes of the past remain. The story of Fisher’s Field is one of both hope and despair. A reminder of the complexities of urban decay and the resilience of the human spirit. This location is a poignant testament to a chapter in New Orleans’ history. A history we must never forget.