Terry’s Corner

A child plays at Terry’s Corner. Photo by Bethany Rogers.

Terry’s Corner is located in the Seventh Ward at the corner of North Roman and Columbus Streets. Terry Joseph was born and raised near the corner of North Roman and Columbus in a double shotgun camel back. He raised six children of his own there, and still lives in the family house. Across the street from his house is a vacant lot owned by another neighbor, Pat O’Brien, but maintained by Terry and his group of friends as a larger gathering spot. Everyone calls it “the field.”

Pat’s decision to buy the field goes against the trend of abandoned property in the Seventh Ward. Nearby “the field,” there are adjudicated, overgrown lots where ownership is tangled in city bureaucracy. Despite efforts from many neighbors, they remain unclaimed and are often sites of violence.

Roman and Columbus is a different story, because something is always going on. Music or Saints football games blare from car stereos, news and cold beer are shared, or a pack of wild chickens are fussed over and fed. Many of the guys who pass by grew up together on the surrounding blocks. Most of them have moved to different parts of the city, a common story in the Seventh Ward, but they still have family in the community and consider the neighborhood and their community corner lot to be their center of gravity.

Two men play horseshoes on North Roman by Terry’s Corner. Photo by Bethany Rogers.

Interview with William Barnes

William Barnes, Roman by Terry regulars, said, “I was born here at 1481 North Roman, next to Terry. When we were young—three years old—we’d touch hands through the fence. Terry’s the oldest friend in my life. I’ve known him for 66 years. When you say Roman, Roman’s big, yeah! You got a South Roman and a North Roman, but when we say Roman, we mean Roman Street by Terry. You don’t need no address. After all these years, Terry’s still here.”