In New Orleans, in the Lakeview section of the city, sits the Pontchartrain Baptist Church on Hammond Highway, just west of the 17th Street Canal.
This building has a white painted brick face and has colored glass above the double door entrance. There is a small sign that identifies the church. On the lawn there is another sign in Spanish, which is likely a Spanish congregation also sharing the building. The rest of the building appears to be corrugated steel. It has a sloped roof, which is corrugated steel and painted in the design of the American flag.
A web site for the church was not found. Thus, I can't find out about the activities of its congregation. However, there have been several other sites, including blogs and newspapers that referenced either this building. A directory for Baptist Churches identifies it affiliated with the Southern Baptist church.
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One site by Joe McKeever, a cartoonist and commentator on the churches in the area, had a couple entries of the church in the period after the flood and when it was rededicated. In his blog on March 15, 2007, "What Rededication Means," he outlined what happened in the two years following. The church originally had the plain red brick face and had an educational center situated by it. When the floods came, the church and education center were inundated, as well as blocks and blocks of houses behind it. The levee break was a mere 200 feet from the church, itself. The education building was torn down, though the blog indicated that the foundation was shifting rather than the storm itself was the reason why it was torn down. A church in Jackson, Mississippi adopted this church and its members helped in making the building usable again. The red brick was painted white, and other things were done. A new sign was planted, saying "Rededication, April 1, 10:00 am, You're Invited."
The author also mentioned that during the church's rebuilding, the sanctuary was the only building standing in the area. Today, there are many houses, some obviously new, and some appear to have been rebuilt. In a trip I took in 2007, there were many abandoned properties, some people pulling out trash and ruined building materials, and the roads were still in poor condition. There is a great difference seen between those times. At this neighborhood is receiving some attention.
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His blog on April 1, 2007, "Honor the Church, You Honor the Lord," provided a synopsis of the ceremonies, many of which are touching and inspiring.
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This link has a picture of the church soon after the flood. The flood line is clearly visible as a brown horizontal stain across the brick, and the sign.
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During the flood, the church was referenced by a New York Times article.
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An article on Nola.com (Times-Picayune Web Site) had mentioned that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had proposed an alternative location of the 17th Street Canal station to be located at the Pontchartrain Baptist Church. No information present on the probability of that plan being selected.
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Hopefully, visitors will report periodically on its status.