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NOLA-area throwback: Clam shell parking lots and driveways courtesy of Lake Pontchartrain
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:51 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:51 pm
For those too young to remember, years ago parking lots, driveways, and even small roads were comprised of bleach-white clam shells, from clams that had been dredged from the lake. Parenthically, the dredging was stopped because it dirtied the lake. One of those seemingly-meaningless-yet-fond memories. I can still hear the "crunch" under my shoes... or the car's tires.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 7:57 pm
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Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:52 pm to Zachary
I have it underlying my asphalt driveway. I might remove the asphalt and try to find some second hand shells.
My house was built in the early 60s.
My house was built in the early 60s.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 7:54 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:53 pm to Zachary
The apartment we lived in near Clearview and Vets had them as a parking lot..
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:55 pm to Zachary
That crunching sound makes mine twitch!
Yep, lots of parking “dates” on some of those shelled ways. Sound takes me right back there.
That sound and the song Walk Like An Egyptian. Like Pavlov. Twitched.
Great post (memory), OP.
Yep, lots of parking “dates” on some of those shelled ways. Sound takes me right back there.
That sound and the song Walk Like An Egyptian. Like Pavlov. Twitched.
Great post (memory), OP.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 7:59 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:56 pm to Zachary
I remember the car lots downtown that would stack the cars on racks on top of each other.
I haven’t seen those in awhile.
I haven’t seen those in awhile.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:56 pm to UptownJoeBrown
My parents built in 1980s. Clam shell road and driveway at the time. Road was about 1 mile. Its under there still i imagine. I cant remember if it got taken out or not.
Nothing like falling off your bike as a child and getting those shells in your kneecap. Old man telling you to tough up as he pulled em out with dirty arse needle nose pliers. Then sprayed that red shite on the wound that burned like hell.
Nothing like falling off your bike as a child and getting those shells in your kneecap. Old man telling you to tough up as he pulled em out with dirty arse needle nose pliers. Then sprayed that red shite on the wound that burned like hell.
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 7:59 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:57 pm to Zachary
We didn’t have a driveway in midcity but only the middle of the road was paved - sides where everyone parked was clam shells
This was from the 1980s until the early 2000s
This was from the 1980s until the early 2000s
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:57 pm to Zachary
That’s coonass caliche. I’m pretty sure my elementary school just threw some tar over a couple decades of shakes and calling it our recess yard/school bus line/fire muster point.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:57 pm to Zachary
The lake got significantly better after that dredging stopped.
I remember it well.. always was fascinated by how many damn clams there musta been in the lake.
I remember it well.. always was fascinated by how many damn clams there musta been in the lake.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:57 pm to Zachary
When I was a kid I thought when they stopped dredging the lake it would be crystal clear. Apparently I was wrong.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:59 pm to Cage Fighter Trainee
It was clear when the clams were in the lake
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:59 pm to Zachary
quote:
parking lots, driveways, and even small roads were comprised of bleach-white clam shells, f
had those all over south La, over to the west they called them Permian oyster shells, don't think that was accurate though
Posted on 6/8/26 at 7:59 pm to Zachary
Wasn’t just a New Orleans thing
I remember having those clam shells in driveways and parking lots in Baton Rouge when I was a kid
I remember having those clam shells in driveways and parking lots in Baton Rouge when I was a kid
This post was edited on 6/8/26 at 8:00 pm
Posted on 6/8/26 at 8:02 pm to TigerBR1111
Posted on 6/8/26 at 8:24 pm to Zachary
My maw maw and paw paw in Marrero had an oyster shell driveway back in the day
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:03 pm to Zachary
Shells were hell on the bare feet.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:03 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
had those all over south La
My grandfather worked in the oilfield and all the roads out there were those shells.
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:06 pm to Zachary
Going face first over bmx handlebars into a fresh shell driveway would frick you up
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:06 pm to Nado Jenkins83
quote:
It was clear when the clams were in the lake
If that's true that's a shame
Posted on 6/8/26 at 9:10 pm to Zachary
The clam shell driveways and parking lots with the white dust covering the cars seemed to be a feature of casual seafood restaurants back then. Along with piers and large gauge rope marking off the walkways and property, that was a staple into the 80’s.
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