Bucktown, a historic lakeside community on the outskirts of New Orleans, has long been a place of mystery, transformation, and resilience. Nestled along Lake Pontchartrain, this Jefferson Parish enclave evolved from a humble fishing village into a thriving neighborhood with a storied past.
For those who grew up there, like Casey Levy and his ten siblings, Bucktown was a world unto itself. In the 1950s and ’60s, its streets were covered in clam shells, and telephones operated on shared party lines. Hunters could still track rabbits in what is now the site of Lakeside Mall. Yet even for lifelong residents, the origins of Bucktown’s name have remained a subject of intrigue.
A Name Rooted in History
Some believe the name Bucktown comes from a colorful local fisherman or shrimper. Others say it was inspired by the area’s once-thriving deer population. However, one of the most detailed theories traces the name back to William Wooley, a mustachioed private watchman patrolling the raucous waterfront in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as “Buck Oliver,” Wooley gained notoriety among the neighborhood’s rowdy young men, and the area came to be called “Buck’s Town” in his honor.
Despite alternative explanations—including tales of a troublemaking cowboy—the legend of Wooley remains one of the most compelling.
A Fishing Village with a Wild Reputation
Bucktown’s identity was deeply tied to its fishing industry, which flourished in the mid-1800s. Vintage photographs from the early 20th century depict wooden fishing shacks lining the canals, with pirogues moored alongside them. Fresh trout, flounder, and shellfish made the area a seafood hub, a tradition that continues today.
But Bucktown was also known for something else—its reputation for vice and revelry. In the early 1900s, cabarets and speakeasies dotted the waterfront, attracting thrill-seekers from nearby New Orleans. The name Bucktown took on a certain wild and unpolished connotation, which some residents resented.
In 1921, a local saloon owner named John Bruning petitioned the Louisiana Legislature to change the community’s name to East End, arguing that Bucktown implied lawlessness. A New Orleans newspaper even illustrated the contrast between “Eastenders,” depicted as hardworking fishermen, and “Bucktowners,” drawn as hard-drinking gamblers with hidden liquor bottles. Despite the effort to rebrand, Bucktown’s name endured, cementing its place in local lore.
Ghost Stories and Forgotten Hauntings
Like any place with deep history, Bucktown has its share of ghostly tales. Some say the area is haunted by Confederate soldiers who lost their way and perished near the lake, their spirits still lingering along the shore. Others tell of a woman who drowned in a canal, her cries carried by the wind on stormy nights. Even a Yankee gunboat captain was said to haunt the first house built in the so-called East End.
While these legends have faded over time, they add another layer to Bucktown’s rich and complex past.
The Changing Face of Bucktown
By the mid-20th century, Bucktown was no longer the rough-and-tumble outpost it once was. Over the decades, it transformed into a close-knit residential community, known for its seafood restaurants and lakefront charm. Businesses like Bruning’s, a seafood institution dating back to 1859, became beloved local landmarks. Though the restaurant stood for 146 years, Hurricane Katrina ultimately destroyed it in 2005.
Today, Bucktown thrives as a suburban neighborhood and a go-to destination for fresh seafood. The fishing shacks and notorious nightspots are gone, replaced by modern infrastructure, including a massive pumping station to protect the area from future storms.
A Legacy That Endures
Despite attempts to erase or redefine its identity, Bucktown remains a name with deep historical roots. Its reputation may have evolved, but its legacy as a vibrant, resilient community lives on. From its origins as a fishing village to its role in local legend and music—immortalized in Jelly Roll Morton’s Bucktown Blues—this unique corner of Louisiana has left an indelible mark on the region.
While the old Bucktown may exist only in memories and photographs, its spirit endures in every bowl of seafood gumbo, every lakefront sunset, and every story passed down through generations.