Living and Dying with Preservation

Living and dying with historic Preservation
Anthony delrosario

Studio in Building Preservation - Master in Preservation studies - tulane school of architecture

Living and dying with historic Preservation
Anthony delrosario

Studio in Building Preservation - Master in Preservation studies - tulane school of architecture

Anthony Del RosARio M.P.S. Candidate
PRST 6150 Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010 Master in Preservation Studies Tulane School of Architecture Professors: Eugene D. Cizek, Ph.D., FAIA Heather Knight, M.P.S. Mark W. Thomas III, L.Arch., M.P.S.

Front cover: Inside front cover: Inside back cover: Back cover:

Bohemian glass door panel, Grace Episcopal Church. Portland cement and eroded bricks, slave cabin, Magnolia Plantation. Ruins, Kate Chopin House. Floor cloth, Rosedown Plantation.

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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tAble of Contents
Introduction Living with Historic Preservation Spring 2010 Field Sessions Maps: Field Sessions Maps National Park Service Maps Historical Map Photographic Essay House Museums Large Scale Sites Materials and Construction Adaptive Reuse New Construction in Historic Settings People of Preservation Future for River Road and Preservation Sources Dying with Historic Preservation Cities of the Dead: Schwegmann Family Tomb HABS Drawings Sources v 2 3 5 7 9 43 49 55 63 67 71 75 78

83 90 94

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Evergreen Plantation, Wallace Louisiana.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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IntRoDuCtion
The world in which we live is not static; it is a constantly evolving place. For those involved in preservation, this is one of the most important variables to consider. How do we preserve the past in the present when there is always a future? During the Spring 2010 semester, the Studio in Building Preservation class examined and considered a number of aspects of cultural resources in Louisiana with a focus on the Great Mississippi River Road. From house museums to houses in disrepair to outdoor museums to heritage areas, the class studied the successes and the misses of preservation in the region. For preservation in the present to remain relevant to future generations, we must understand and save, as Professor Eugene Cizek stated, the “continuity and value” of our cultural resources. To do so, we need to maintain not only the who, what, where, and when of cultural resources but also the why. This document will look at what the class learned how to document, preserve, interpret, and present the why. -Anthony DelRosario

Longwood, Natchez, Mississippi.

Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Living with histoRiC PReseRvAtion

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Spring 2010 Field Sessions
Friday February 19 Friday February 26 Friday March 5 Natchez Weekend Friday March 12 Saturday March 13 Fort Pike and St. Joe Brick Works Destrehan and Homeplace Plantations Evergreen and Whitney Plantations Grace Episcopal Church and Cemetery; Rosedown Plantation; Natchez Historic Foundation; Gaudet Residence Natchez Visitor Reception Center; Longwood; Villa di Caprone; Stanton Hall; Downtown Natchez; St. Mary Cathedral; William Johnson House; Traveler’s Rest Melrose; Natchez Trace; Emerald Mound; Mt. Locust Oak Alley and Laura Plantations Felicity and St. Joseph Plantations

Sunday March 14 Friday March 19 Friday March 26

Independent Spring Break Visits Monday March 29 Drayton Hall and Aiken-Rhett House - Charleston, South Carolina Tuesday March 30 Wednesday March 31 Friday April 9 Savannah, Georgia Macon, Georgia and Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Rural Life Museum; Old State Capitol; New State Capitol; State Historic Preservation Office Vermilionville; Acadian Cultural Center; Downtown Opelousas, Bennett House Cane River National Heritage Area: Kate Chopin House Ruins and Magnolia, Melrose, & Oakland Plantations; Downtown Natchitoches National Center for Preservation Technology and Training



Natchitoches Weekend Saturday April 17 Sunday April 18 Monday April 19

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Google Maps

Field Sessions
1. Rural Life Museum 2. Old and New State Capitol 1. St. Francisville - Grace Episcopal Church and Rosedown 2. Natchez - Longwood, Melrose, Stanton Hall, St. Mary Cathedral, William Johnson House 3. Natchez Trace - Emerald Mound and Mt. Locust River Road Plantations See detail map.

1. Fort Pike 2. St. Joe Brick Works 1. Acadian Cultural Center and Vermilionville 2. Historic Downtown Opelousas 3. Bennett House 4. Cane River National Heritage Area 5. Historic Downtown Natchitoches and NCPTT

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Google Maps

River Road Plantations
5. Whitney Plantation 6. Evergreen Plantation 7. Homeplace Plantation 8. Destrehan Plantation

1. Oak Alley Plantation 2. St. Joseph Plantation 3. Felicity Plantation 4. Laura Plantation

Google Maps

Independent Spring Break Visits

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Plantations on the Mississippi River from Natchez to New Orleans, 1858 Louisiana State Museum Map Database http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/lsmmaps Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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PhotograPhic essay

All photographs and sketches by Anthony DelRosario
unless noted

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Fort Pike - New Orleans

Citadel and parade grounds.

Corner damage.

Top of outer wall.

Nutria.

View of lake.

Example of cypress log on which the fort is built.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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St. Joe Brick Works - Slidell

St. Joe bricks found at Fort Pike

Dirt shed.

AutoBrik Machine.

Drying shed.

Beehive kiln.

Bricks ready for shipment. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Destrehan Plantation - River Road

Main house.

Colonial Revival door from 1915.

Bousillage with finger holes.

Original bricks from 1790.

Historic house and site donated by Amoco Oil Company.

Rear of house.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Homeplace Plantation - River Road

Main house. National Historic Landmark.

Ground floor secure area with gun holes next to door.

Creole staircase.

Exposed bousillage.

Main floor interior with plywood over termite damaged floors.

Sketch of pigeonnier.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Evergreen Plantation - River Road

Main house. National Historic Landmark.

View of garden from rooftop.

Staircase.

Pigeonnier and kitchen.

Storm damaged slave cabin.

Slave cabins.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Whitney Plantation - River Road

Main house.

The Field of Angels.

Only surviving French Creole barn in Louisiana.

“Memory” of ceiling painting before restoration.

Exterior wall mural.

Ram’s horn or moustache hinge.

Slave cabins.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

St. Francisville - Natchez Weekend

Grace Episcopal Church, St. Francisville, Louisiana.

Sketch of Egyptian Revival tomb, Grace Episcopal Cemetery.

Grace Episcopal Church and Cemetery.

Rosedown, Plantation, St. Francisville. National Historic Landmark.

Sketch of dovecote, Rosedown Plantation.

Interior staircase and wallpaper, Rosedown Plantation.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchez - Natchez Weekend

Historic Natchez Foundation.

Gaudet Residence. New construction designed by Professor Cizek. Natchez.

View from Natchez Visitor Reception Center.

Longwood, Natchez, Mississippi. National Historic Landmark.

Behind the scenes access to the top, Longwood.

View up to dome, Longwood.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Natchez - Natchez Weekend

Villa di Caprone, Natchez, Mississippi.

Stanton Hall, Natchez, Mississippi. National Historic Landmark.

St. Mary Catherdral, Natchez, Mississippi.

Trompe l’oeil murals inside St. Mary Cathedral.

William Johnson House, National Park Service, Natchez, Mississippi.

Hotel Eola. Natchez.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchez - Natchez Weekend

Trinity Episcopal Church, Natchez, Mississippi.

Water tower seen from Stanton Hall.

Natchez Under-The-Hill.

View from Natchez Under-The-Hill.

Attic room, Traveler’s Rest, Natchez, Mississippi.

Restoration work, Melrose, Natchez, Mississippi.

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Natchez - Natchez Weekend

Melrose, Natchez, Mississippi. National Historic Landmark.

Sketch of Melrose.

Behind the scenes access to the attic, Melrose.

Old Natchez Trace.

Emerald Mound, Natchez Trace. National Historic Landmark.

Mt. Locust, National Park Service, Natchez Trace.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchez - Natchez Weekend

Hand painted sign, Franklin St. Package Store, Natchez, Mississippi.

Donald Roller Wilson painting, Villa di Caprone, Natchez, Mississippi. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Oak Alley Plantation - River Road

Main house. National Historic Landmark.

Alley of oaks.

Peripteral collande.

Sketch of the rear of main house.

Outbuildings.

Barn.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Laura Plantation - River Road

Main house.

Rear of main house.

House of Thirty marking.

Scarf joint.

Slave cabins.

Maison de reprise. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Felicity Plantation - River Road

Main house.

Sketch of main house.

Rear of house, 2009.

Rear of house, 2010.

Scarf joint.

Tin ceiling.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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St. Joseph Plantation - River Road

Main house.

Sketch of main house.

Rear of main house.

Sketch of rear of main house.

Briquette-entre-poteaux construction.

Plantation store. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Drayton Hall -Charleston, S. C.

Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina. National Historic Landmark.

Sketch of front of house.

Rear of house.

Model of house. Only item in main floors of house.

Mantel in Great Hall.

Upper Great Hall.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Aiken-Rhett House - Charleston, S. C.

Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston, South Carolina.

Rear courtyard.

Gothic revival privy.

Original exterior faux finish scored to resemble masonry and mortar.

megnificence on flickr.com
Faux finish on shutter. Stablized and conserved interior. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

National Historic Landmark District - Savannah, Georgia

Colonial Park Cemetery.

Sketch of tomb.

Oyster shell walkway in Colonial Park Cemetery.

City Hall.

New construction federal building.

Old Chatham County Courthouse on Wright Square.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Macon, Georgia and Tuskegee, Alabama

St Joseph Catholic Church and First Baptist Church of Christ, Macon.

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.

Lawrence Mayer Florist, Macon.

“Ghosts” of demolished buildings, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.

Historic facade fronting a parking lot, Macon.

Interactive display, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Rural Life Museum - Baton Rouge

Burden Family Home.

Germain Bergeron House.

Sketch of Acadian House.

Dog-trot house from central Louisiana.

New construction exhibit barn.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Old State Capitol - Baton Rouge

National Historic Landmark. View from River Road.

Free-standing staircase.

Stained glass rotunda.

Senate Chamber.

Statue of Huey P. Long.

View from atop Shaw Center for the Arts. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

New State Capitol and SHPO - Baton Rouge

Louisiana State Capitol. National Historic Landmark.

Exterior detail, State Capitol.

Exterior detail, State Capitol.

Interior detail, State Capitol.

Capitol Annex Building, home of State Historic Preservation Office.

Exterior detail, Capitol Annex Building.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchitoches Weekend - Lafayette

Acadian Cultural Center, National Park Service, Lafayette, Louisiana.

Acadian Cultural Center, National Park Service, Lafayette, Louisiana.

Restoration project, Vermilionville, Lafayette, Louisiana.

La Maison Broussard, Vermilionville, Lafayette, Louisiana.

Le Presbytère, Vermilionville, Lafayette, Louisiana.

Merlin Fontenot, cultural interpreter, Vermilionville, Lafayette, Louisiana.

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Natchitoches Weekend - Opelousas & Alexandria

Old Federal Building, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Bennett House aka Bleak House, outside Alexandria, Louisiana.

Greek Revival law office, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Old Bennettville Store, outside Alexandria, Louisiana.

St. Landry Parish Courthouse, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Matt’s Cabin, outside Alexandria, Louisiana.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchitoches Weekend - Cloutierville

Ruins of Kate Chopin House.

Birdhouse version of Kate Chopin House.

Carpenter bee holes in bousillage on Bayou Folk Museum barn.

Burned Bayou Folk Museum sign.

Vernacular building, Cloutierville, Louisiana.

Vernacular building, Cloutierville, Louisiana.

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Natchitoches Weekend - Magnolia Plantation

Store, Magnolia Plantation. Full site is National Historic Landmark.

Sketch of Magnolia Plantation Store.

Blacksmith shop and pigeonnier.

Cotton Gin/Press Barn.

Slave/tenant cabin.

Portland cement and eroded bricks on slave/tenant cabin.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchitoches Weekend- Melrose Plantation

Yucca House, Melrose Plantation. Full site is National Historic Landmark.

New gutter, Yucca House.

Carpenter bee holes in bousillage, Yucca House.

Scarf joint, Yucca House.

African House.

Sketch of African House. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Natchitoches Weekend - Oakland Plantation

Main house. Full site is National Historic Landmark.

Mule barn.

Bousillage wall of pigeonnier.

1950s interior of main house.

1950s interior of main house.

1950s interior of main house.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Natchitoches Weekend - Downtown Natchitoches

Roque House.

Bousillage and poteaux-en-selles construction, Roque House.

Stair case.

Natchitoches Parish Courthouse.

Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Old Courthouse. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Natchitoches Weekend - NCPTT, Natchitoches

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, Natchitoches.

Preservapedia, NCPTT.

Clean lab, NCPTT.

Dirty lab, NCPTT.

Atmospheric conditions lab, NCPTT.

Atmospheric conditions lab, NCPTT.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Sketches

Slave quarters, Evergreen Plantation.

Slave quarters, Evergreen Plantation.

Front elevation, Felicity Plantation.

Side elevation, Felicity Plantation.

Front elevation, Mt. Locust.

Rear elevation, Mt. Locust. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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house MuseuMs

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

Many sites visited by the class throughout the semester are house museums that include Destrehan, Oak Alley, Laura, St. Joseph, Longwood, Stanton Hall, Melrose (Natchez), Mt. Locust, and Rosedown. They are run by a range of organizations such as not-for-profits (River Road Historical Society - Destrehan, Oak Alley Foundation, Pilgrimage Garden Club Longwood and Stanton Hall), private enterprise (Laura Plantation Company, St. Joseph Planting and Manufacturing Company), the State of Louisiana (Rosedown), and the National Park Service (Melrose, Mt. Locust). All of these homes are interpreted to the antebellum era but differ in the manner of presentation. Several houses cater to what Professor Cizek calls the idea of “Moonlight and Magnolias” such as Stanton Hall and Longwood by using guides in period costume to give a scripted tour of roped off rooms. The tours Oak Alley. at each house focus on the family or families that owned the house with cursory mention of slavery. At Oak Alley, in addition to women in hoop skirts, mint juleps are offered for sale to take inside the house during the tour. Also, photographs are not allowed inside of these house museums None of the these three houses offer a program in heritage education for school children.

“Moonlight and Magnolias” by Mort Künstler.

Mt. Locust.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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Other houses offer tours with guides not required to wear period costumes. At Melrose and Mt. Locust where most rooms are roped off, the tour is led by a National Park ranger. At St. Joseph, often a member of the Waguespack family that owns St. Joseph Planting and Manufacturing Company leads the tour through the house which is not roped off. The tour at Rosedown passes through each room with only one room having sections roped off where the original carpet is on the floor. Rosedown has a history program for school groups and Mt. Locust has a daily interpretive program while Melrose and St. Joseph do not offer heritage programs. However, St. Joseph has a large

display about the history of sugar cane industry and a small display about H. H. Richardson, the famous architect that was born on the nearby Priestly Plantation. Destrehan and Laura are the two that offer the best history education selection. Destrehan has craft demonstrations by costumed artisans six days of the week in addition to the daily tours led by costumed guides. Also, Destrehan offers a robust heritage program for all grade levels from kindergarten to eighth grade as well as a weekend of heritage days in the spring and in the fall. Of all these house museums, Laura offers the richest story with its “Creole Family Saga” tour using

History of sugar cane industry, St. Joseph.

Listening to park ranger, Mt Locust.

Rosedown.

Melrose. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

information gathered from 5,000 pages of documents that were found in the French National Archives, from oral histories from family members who lived on this plantation, and from the memoirs of Laura Locoul. Two specialty themed historical tours are available that cover the effects of slavery on those that lived on the plantation and the role of four generation of women owners. During spring break, the author visited two unique sites in Charleston, South Carolina Drayton Hall and the Aiken-Rhett House. Built on the shores of the Ashley River from 1738 to 1742, Drayton Hall is the oldest surviving example of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States. The house had been virtually unaltered when the National Trust for Historic Preservation purchased the property from the Drayton Family in 1974. Unbelievably, electricity and plumbing were never added; however, now the house has very minimal electrical wiring to power fire and intruder alarms. The Trust made the unprecedented decision to preserve the house as it was received. Thus, the house was not restored to reflect any single period. Instead of restoration or recreation, the focus of preservation is stabilization and

conservation. Three major projects have centered on the mid 19th century plaster ceiling in the Great Hall, the late 19th century interior painting throughout the house, and the 18th century exterior masonry. The upper floors of the house are empty except for a model of the house in the Great Hall and benches in one room and the basement is empty except for a display about joining the Friends of Drayton Hall. Recently, the National Trust purchased the land across the river from the grounds to ensure the unadulterated view from the house. Several different heritage education programs are available at Drayton Hall. The author saw a number of school groups taking advantage of the educational opportunities. The Aiken-Rhett House is the most intact townhouse complex in Charleston. Built in 1818 and expanded in the 1830s and 1850s, the house has been virtually unaltered since 1858. The house remained in the Aiken-Rhett Family for the entirety until being donated in 1975 to the Charleston Museum who initially intended to completely restore the building. After years of fundraising for various projects, the museum decided in the late 1980s to conserve the original historic fabric on the first floor and also made a proposal, but never carried out, to

Buildings for artisan interpretation, Destrehan.

Laura.

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use the second floor as an exhibition space of decorative arts. The Historic Charleston Foundation assumed ownership in 1995 after the financial burden was too much for the Charleston Museum. The HCF decided to restore only the the art gallery which had suffered extensive water damage and conserve and stabilize the rest of the interior following the precedent set at Drayton Hall. The exterior was restored to its 1858 appearance since the exterior was in a state of decay that was allowing moisture to migrate to the interior. The tour of the house is an audio tour. Heritage education opportunities are offered for Girl Scouts to earn their local lore patch.

The type of interpretation at Drayton Hall and the Aiken-Rhett House could be considered for Homeplace. If the house were stabilized and made safe, Homeplace conserved with its historic fabric would make for an excellent complement to Destrehan since the two were possibly constructed by the same free man of color, Charles Paquet. This would make Homeplace unique among the River Road plantations.

Plaster ceiling, Drayton Hall.

Room with benches, Drayton Hall.

Restored exterior faux finish, Aiken-Rhett House.

Homeplace.

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

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large scale sites

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Living and Dying with Historic Preservation - Studio in Building Preservation - Spring 2010

In addition to house museums, the class visited several large scale sites that were either intact plantation settings or outdoor museum collections. A range of experiences were provided by Evergreen Plantation, Whitney Plantation, Rural Life Museum, Vermilionville, Magnolia Plantation, and Oakland Plantation. Evergreen is a rare example of a plantation complex with a significant number of outbuildings. In particular, Evergreen has the largest number of antebellum buildings, as most of the few other large complexes are from the late nineteenth century, and has the largest row of slave cabins in the South. This unique complex is open to public; however, only two tours are offered on six days of the week. Since owner Matilda Gray Stream still stays at Evergreen occasionally, the plantation tour is not promoted as heavily as tours of other plantations along River Road. Evergreen represents a fine example of a privately owned National Historic Landmark that provides cultural and academic access. Evergreen does not have a heritage education program aimed at school children; however, Evergreen does have a public archeology project and an oral history collection project. Two large intact plantations are located in the Cane River Creole National Historical

Park which is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area in Natchitoches Parish. Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, now under the administration of the National Park Service, “owe their physical integrity to the families that kept them intact for seven and eight generations” (NPS CRCNHP). Both plantations were designated as a National Bicentennial Farm by an Act of Congress in 1988 as part of the 200th Anniversary Celebration of the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Magnolia, continually owned by descendants of Jean Baptiste LeComte II until sold to the NPS, has rare structures such as the row of masonry slave cabins and the last in situ wooden screw-type cotton press in the United

Site map, Magnolia, NPS.

Site plan, Evergreen, HABS.

Site map, Oakland, NPS.

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States. Self-guided tours are available with a large site plan and description as well as a cell phone tour. Although the main house of Magnolia is not part of the park, Betty Hertzog, a descendant of the LeComtes, still lives in the main house and offers guided tours. Oakland was owned by the Prud’homme family until purchased by the NPS in 1998. This plantation is unique in the domains of parks operated by the NPS and of interpretative house museums. Oakland was the first national park focused on the story of Creoles. Also, Oakland is a rare example of a postCivil War interpretation and the only example of a 1960s interpretation. This uniqueness can be attributed to the continuity of ownership by a single family. According to the ranger at Oakland, the attic of the main house was filled items from several generations since the family never moved away. As with Magnolia, Oak-

land offers self-guided tours and cell phone tour. In addition, guided tours of the main house are available. Cane River Creole National Historical Park offers heritage education programs that can be customized to meet the needs of groups according to size and time constraints. One pre-designed program is entitled “Daily Life of a Sharecropper” which allows students to experience the activities of a sharecropper including cotton picking, learning field songs, and shopping at the plantation store. This program meets the Louisiana standards of learning for grades 3-6. In addition to the intact sites, the class visited three outdoor museum settings. Two of these are within the limits of the cities in which they are located and one is a rural setting. Vermilionville, located on the banks of Bayou Vermilion, is a Cajun/Creole heritage and folklife park located near the Lafayette airport. The park is laid out as historic village that depicts life in the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. The grounds contain about twenty structures with about a third of these being restored original buildings. Costumed interpreters are in several buildings where they demonstrate traditional crafts. The park is densely arranged with concrete walkways. Vermilionville feels like theme park - a Cajun

Map, Cane River National Heritage.

Cell phone tour, Magnolia and Oakland, NPS. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Williamsburg. The park provides an Interpretative Walking Tour brochure with detailed information in English and French and a large site map. A variety of programs are offered for school groups. For an additional experience, the Acadian Cultural Center is adjacent to the park. Here the National Park Service relates stories of the Acadians and other area groups. The Rural Life Museum is within the city limits of Baton Rouge but sits on a 450 acre tract, once known as Windrush Plantation, donated by the Burden Family. A newly constructed barn houses a large collection of artifacts of rural life from prehistoric times to the twentieth century including paintings by folk artist Clementine Hunter. The outdoor section of the Rural Life Museum is composed of three main areas - Windrush Gardens and Burden Home, the Working Plantation, and the Louisi-

ana Folk Architecture collection. The plantation and folk architecture buildings were orphaned buildings from Louisiana that would have been demolished if not moved to the museum. The museum offers maps for self-guided tours as well group tours. The Rural Life Museum does not have costumed interpreters nor concrete walkways seen at Vermilionville. This summer a Rural Life Apprentice Program will be offered where Louisiana craftsmen will teach children traditional folk arts. Whitney Plantation is on River Road about one mile from Evergreen Plantation. Lawyer John Cummings is the owner of Whitney and a chaotic collection of orphaned buildings. Among the plantation’s original buildings are the main house with rare exterior murals, the last surviving French Creole barn, and the oldest kitchen in Louisiana. Cummings has collected a number of buildings including sev-

Site map, Vermilionville, Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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eral slave cabins and a church. The vision that Cummings has for Whitney is a mixture of the Rural Life Museum, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, and a slave memorial. Like the Rural Life Museum, Whitney is a building orphanage but with less cohesion. Like the sharecropper program at Cane River, Cummings wants to provide a hands-on experience but in the harsher view as a slave. Plans for the slave memorial include inscribing into granite slabs all of the names of the slaves from Louisiana, creating a Field of Angels dedicated to the Cemetery gate pieces, Whitney. 2200 slave infants that died before reaching the age of two in St. John the Baptist Parish, and making realistic statues of slave children. The vision for Whitney comes from only Cummings. With a board of administrators, a better focused plan could be created for the site which is full of educational possibilities.

Cemetery, Rural Life Museum.

Classmate with slave children statues, Whitney.

Cemetery, Vermilionville.

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Materials and Methods

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The class saw firsthand a number of materials and methods, both traditional and non-traditional. One of the first similarities seen among site visits was the French Creole raised cottage style of Destrehan, Homeplace, Laura, and St. Joseph. The class learned that Destrehan, Homeplace, and Laura were possibly all constructed a free man of color, Charles Paquet. From the four plantation homes, two distinctive construction methods can be found. Along River Road, Destrehan and Homeplace are both bousillage-entre-poteaux construction in which a mixture of mud or clay with spanish moss or sometimes animal hair is hung

on sticks between large timber-frame posts. This method was also seen in Acadiana (Germain Bergeron House - moved to Rural Life Museum from Bayou Lafourche, Amand Broussard House - moved to Vermilionville from 25 miles away) and in central Louisiana (blacksmith shop - Magnolia, Yucca House - Melrose, pigeonnier - Oakland, Roque House - downtown Natchitoches). The bousillage of central Lousiana is a different color from that found in southern Louisiana due to a higher content of iron oxide in the clay. Also, the bousillage of central Louisiana tends to attract carpenter bees. On River Road, Laura and St. Joseph

Bousillage, blacksmith shop, Magnolia.

Bousillage, Roque House.

Sketch of exposed bousillage, Homeplace.

Bousillage, Germain Bergeron House.

Bousillage, Armand Brousssard House.

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are both briquette-entre-poteaux construction where bricks are used as infill between large timber-frame posts. This method was seen at several other sites on River Road including Felicity, pigeonniers at Whitney, and the Mialaret House at Whitney. Another construction method seen at several sites was the Norman truss roof. Destrehan has an unrestored room for educational purposes that includes a window to the attic to see the Norman truss roof in addition to exposed plaster and exposed bousillage. A Norman truss was also seen at the French Creole barn of Whitney, Evergreen, and St. Joseph.

In Slidell, the class visited St. Joe Brick Works which has been in operation since 1891. The company continues to make moulded face brick using a machine that is nearly 100 years old. Brick from St. Joe was found at the nearby Fort Pike and as far away as the African House at Melrose outside Natchitoches. In addition to seeing the manufacture process of bricks, the class saw several sites facing various masonry problems. Fort Pike has several areas of severe damage, including the outer wall and two corners, due to the fact that the inner part of the fort was built on cypress logs that rise and fall slightly with the tide and that

Moat and outer wall, Fort Pike.

Corner damage, Fort Pike.

Brick between post, Felicity.

Brick between post, Felicity, St. Joseph.

Brick between post, Laura.

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during some restoration time the outer wall was cemented to the inner part. Oak Alley faces severe masonry damage as well. To make the matter worse, improper repair methods are being used. The brick columns that surround the house are being repaired with Portland cement which is causing more damage and in turn is causing some of the columns to buckle. Also, at Magnolia, the use of Portland cement on a slave cabin has created a lace-like pattern of cement where the softer brick has eroded away. The use of the cement at Magnolia was probably from decades ago while the use of cement at Oak

Alley is occuring currently. Magnolia does however have two examples of inadequate contemporary work. First, the steel beams added to the barn that houses the cotton gin and press is more than is needed and takes away from the purity of the building. Second is the poorly place wheelchair elevator at the overseer’s house. The lift should have been placed in the back of the building by the additions. Likewise at Oakland, a poorly placed wheelchair elevator detracts from the main house. In addition, the historic gallery railings have been reinforced with pieces of wood that have been painted white and green

St. Joe Brick Works.

St. Joe Brick at African House.

Oak Alley

Oak Alley.

Cotton gin/press barn, Magnolia.

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to match the original. Traditional methods have been undertaken at Evergreen, Felicity and Laura. Failure of exterior and interior paint at the main house of Evergreen has been mostly solved with the use of traditional lime wash. However, the modern enclosure of the rear loggia has a few problem areas where water is being forced inside instead of evaporating on the outside. Also at Evergreen, Charles Lesher of Milton Freewater has been restoring the staircase and making spindles that will wick less moisture. The class saw the results of major restoration at Laura. Felicity and the product of the post-fire recre-

Overseer’s house, Magnolia.

Main house, Oakland.

Portland cement lace, Magnolia.

Gallery rail, Oakland. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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ation of Laura by Milton Freewater using traditional methods. Major repair work was also under way at Melrose in Natchez and at Yucca House at Melrose outside Natchitoches. The work at Melrose started as a paint job to recreate the pink and tan faux marble grain that the house had originally. However, during preparatory work of fixing a water leak, major damage was discovered from the copper gutters and slate roof. The floor Yucca House was being completely replaced. Also, new gutters were being created for the house. At the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, the class visited various laboratories where materials are tested.

Norman truss roof, Evergreen

Felicity, 2009.

Felicity, 2010.

Melrose.

Yucca House.

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Norman truss roof, Destrehan.

Norman truss roof, French Creole barn, Whitney.

Staircase spindles, Evergreen.

Charles Lesher and Professor Knight examing water damage, Evergreen.

Non-contact 3-D digitizer, NCPTT.

Where can we see bousillage?, Oakland. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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adaPtive reuse

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Several successful adaptive reuse sites were visited by the class. In Natchez, the offices of the Historic Natchez Foundation is located in the former Natchez Institute Building. Also located in Natchez is the federal courthouse which had been the Opera House, a building that the Foundation owned for seventeen years waiting for the right project to be proposed for it. The class was welcomed to a party at Traveler’s Rest, outside of Natchez, which had once been an inn for those traveling the NatHistoric Natchez Foundation. chez Trace by foot or by horseback. The Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge has been beautifully restored and now houses the Museum of Political History. Outside of Alexandria, the class saw the old Bennettville store which has been converted to an artist studio. A site that is full of possibilities for adaptive reuse is Felicity. Currently, the exterior of the house is being restored by Milton Freewater Construction. The interior is not currently being restored but needs a good deal of attention. The Waguespack Family, owners of St. Joseph Planting and Manufacturing Company Federal courthouse, formerly Opera House, Natchez. which owns Felicity, are open to ideas for the beautiful Greek Revival building. Possible uses for the building include bed and breakfast, restaurant, reception facility, or a combination of these. Including at least a restaurant would be a good idea since Oak Alley is the only plantation with a restaurant of the three that offer tour along River Road in Vacherie. Another option for Felicty could also include creating a grand garden in tribute to Le Petit Versailles de la Louisiane, the lavish gardens that Valcour Aime created nearby in the 1840s.
Old State Capitol. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Bennettville Store.

Felicity.

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new construction in historic settings

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The class saw several examples of new construction in historic settings. In downtown Natchez, large scale examples were the new Natchez Convention Center and the new Natchez Grand Hotel. Neither of these was very inspired. The large hotel is a fairly simple design using red bricks and does not have a sense of grandeur that a hotel with the name Grand Hotel should have. The convention center has façades that mimic the blocks of storefronts elsewhere in downtown Natchez. The façades look so real that the convention center is practically camouflaged. Instead, the exterior of the convention center should define the purpose of the building. An example of residential new construction that the class saw is the Gaudet Residence that Professor Cizek designed. The house, which sits

on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, looks modern but respects the massing of the neighboring houses. The group saw interesting projects on Jefferson Street in downtown Natchitoches, the main street of the historic district that runs along Cane River. First, the group considered a new construction building at the end of the commercial blocks of Jefferson Street. The site which had previously been a Ford dealership is now filled with a large building that has commercial space on the first floor and condominiums on the upper floors. The massing of the building relates to the rest of the block; however, façade and balconies do not quite fit. Instead of balconies created from the façade of the building to edge of the sidewalk to match the other buildings, the building has balconies

Natchez Convention Center. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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that start at the façade and go towards the inside of the building. Second, the group considered a historic building in the middle of the commercial stretch of Jefferson Street. The owners of this building turned down historic tax credits in order to build the balconies as they wanted. The balconies were not constructed in the historic manner as those along Jefferson Street and the “curved” corners of the balconies are not smooth curves. In addition to the these large scale examples, the class saw a bank on 2nd Oddly “curved” corners, Natchez. Street with very bad faux-historic galleries.

Condominiums at the end of Jefferson Street, Natchez.

Condominiums at the end of Jefferson Street, Natchez.

City Bank and Trust Company, Natchez.

City Bank and Trust Company, Natchez. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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PeoPle of Preservation

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Over the semester, the class met a variety of people that are enthusiastic about their roles in preservation. Jordan, grounds keeper at Fort Pike, showed his passion for the site which he has know since childhood. At Destrehan, Educational Director Angie Matherne explained their heritage education program and thanked the M.P.S. candidates that had been volunteering. At St. Joe Brick Works, half of the class was led on a tour by a zealous Chris Schneider, member of the Schneider Family which has owned the business for over a century. Octogenarian Mr. Keller welcomed the class to Homeplace and regaled the class with stories of his childhood in the house. The Schneider Family and Mr. Keller are wonderful examples of continuity of history from first hand accounts. At Whitney, the class met trial lawyer John Cummings who is extremely enthusiastic about saving orphaned buildings. His zealousness, however, has led to a chaotic collection. The class met two men from Milton Freewater Construction which has helped restore Laura, Evergreen, and Felicity Plantations. Charles Lesher explained the work that he was doing on the front staircase at Evergreen and

led the class to the belvedere where he will be restoring the railing. Steven Scott met the class at Felicity to talk about the major exterior restoration of Felicity. Charles and Steven are dedicated to keeping alive traditional methods in their restoration work. At Rosedown State Historic Site, half of the class was led on tour by a woman that has been studying Rosedown for over thirty years. Despite her robotic inflection, she was excited to be working at her lifelong passion. Enthusiastic National Park Service rangers welcomed the class at Melrose in Natchez and Oakland. At Melrose, Ranger Melissa Tynes led the class

John Cummings, Whitney.

Chris Schneider, St. Joe Brick Works.

Sketch of Mr. Keller, Homeplace.

Mr. Keller, Homeplace, 2009.

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to a behind the scenes look at the attic. At Oakland, Ranger Nathan Hatfield provided an architectural focused tour. Several people invited the class to their private homes. The class was treated to parties in Natchez by Mary Jane and Ed Gaudet at their residence, by Bob Cannon and Wayne Bryant at their home, Villa di Caprone, and by Wendall Weeden and Steve Cook at Traveler’s Rest. Kathryn and Scott Anderson welcomed the class to their home, Bennett House, and studio, the old Bennettville store, near Alexandria. The class met several people at two of the most important government offices in Louisi-

ana. In Baton Rouge, several employees made a presentation about different facets of the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office. In Natchitoches, the class visited the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training and met people from the four main programs of the center. At the Historic Natchez Foundation, Mimi Miller provided an introduction to Natchez through a pictorial history of the foundation. These people, directly or indirectly, are involved with preserving cultural resources of the region and showed their passion to the class.

Party at Traveler’s Rest.

Professor Cizek and Andy Ferrell, NCPTT.

Charles Lesher, Evergreen.

Steven Scott, Felicity.

Bryan Block

Ranger Hatfield, Oakland.

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future for river road and Preservation

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Mark Thomas
Studio in Buidling Preservation class and friends, Stanton Hall, Natchez. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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In both city and country young people are all too often part of a throwaway society that values nothing except immediacy and hence misprizes the lines running from the past that could project a continuity into the future.
As M.P.S. candidates, the class is the near future of preservation. However, one must to look to the youth as the long term future for preserving the cultural resources of the world. To do so, we must instill the value of why these resources matter. This can be accomplished through heritage education programs such as the successful program at Destrehan. And to have a successful program, we need the historic fabric to provide the tangible items and places to provide a firsthand setting. One cannot survive without the other. As shown by Destrehan, River Road can be an ideal setting for relating these exeprience to young and old alike. But what is in store for the future of River Road? The U.S. Depart of Transportation has named this corridor part of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program. A designation that could bring even

Professor Cizek “Why Historic Preservation?”
more recogintion is national heritage area status. As witnessed at Cane River, private and publicly owned sites work together to create a succesful partnership that conserves and promotes the local cultural landscape. Here, NPS sites, state sites, and other sites contribute to the national significance of the area. Bringing in the NPS to River Road is a key element. One possibilty would be to allow the NPS to assume control of Homeplace and create a site similar to Drayton Hall. However, any future of River Road may be made null and void due to the current environmental disaster from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Charles Lesher said that Laura continued to draw tourists the day following the fire, however, tourism virtually stopped for several months after Katrina due to lack of people coming to New Orleans. We have a while to see how the oil spill plays out and will affect the region.

Destrehan Brochure
Heritage Education Program, Destrehan.

Destrehan Brochure
Heritage Education Program, Destrehan. Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture

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Sources for living with PReseRvAtion
Acadian Cultural Center Website. <http://www.nps.gov/jela/new-acadian-cultural-center.htm>. Cane River Creole National Historical Park Website. <http://www.nps.gov/cari/index.htm>. Cane River National Heritage Area Travel Itinerary. <http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/ caneriver/index.htm>. Cane River National Heritage Area Website. <http://www.caneriverheritage.org>. Cane River National Heritage Area Website. <http://www.nps.gov/crha/index.htm>. Cizek, Eugene Darwin. “Why Historic Preservation?” Louisiana Buildings, 1720-1940. Ed. Jessie J. Poesch and Barbara SoRelle Bacot. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1997. 342-348. DelRosario, Anthony. Fields Studies Journal. DelRosario, Anthony. Fields Studies Papers. DelRosario, Anthony. Fields Studies Photographs. DelRosario, Anthony. Fields Studies Sketches. Destrehan Plantation Website. <http://www.destrehanplantation.org>. Drayton Hall. <http://www.draytonhall.org>. Evergreen Plantation Website. <http://www.evergreenplantation.org>. Explore the History and Culture of Southeastern Louisiana: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary. <http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/travel/louisiana/index.htm>. Historic Charleston Foundation. Grandeur Preserved: The House Museums of Historic Charleston Foundation. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2008. Historic Charleston Foundation. <http://www.historiccharleston.org/experience/arh>. Laura Plantation Website. <http://www.lauraplantation.com>.
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Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey Collection Website. <http://memory.loc. gov/ammem/collections/habs_haer>. Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation’s National Register Website. <http://www.crt.state. la.us/hp/nhl/default.htm>. Louisiana Office of Historic Preservation Website. <http://www.crt.state.la.us/hp>. Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum Website. <http://rurallife.lsu.edu>. Natchez National Historical Park Website. < http://www.nps.gov/natc/index.htm>. Natchez Trace Parkway Website. <http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm>. National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. <http://www.ncptt.nps.gov>. National Scenic Byways Online. <http://www.byways.org>. Oak Alley Plantation Website. <http://www.oakalleyplantation.com>. Pilgrimage Garden Club Website. < http://www.stantonhall.com>. St. Joseph Plantation Website. <http://www.stjosephplantation.com>. Vermilionville Website. <http://www.vermilionville.org>.

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Dying with histoRiC PReseRvAtion

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cities of the dead
Schwegmann Family Tomb:
Historic American Buildings Survey Documentation in St. Roch Cemetery No. 1

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The Cemetery St. Roch Cemetery No. 1 is located at 1725 St. Roch Avenue in the New Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. The cemetery was started by Father Peter Leonard Thevis when his largely German Catholic congregation at Holy Trinity Church was spared from the yellow fever epidemic after having prayed for intervention from St. Roch, one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers” and was reported to have performed cures of the plague during the 14th century. Father Thevis designed the cemetery after Campo Santo dei Tedeschi in Rome and the cemetery opened in 1874. He also designed a chapel as a shrine to St. Roch and constructed it with the help of his congregation. A second part of the cemetery opened in 1895. The Tomb The Schwegmann Family Tomb can be found in St. Roch Cemetery No. 1 in plot numbers 8 and 9 in Square C on St. Bonifice Walk. The tomb is adjacent to the Screwmen’s Benevolent Association Society Tomb.

The Schwegmann Family Tomb is a pediment tomb which, according to Dead Space : Defining the New Orleans Creole Cemetery : St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: Guidelines for Preservation & Restoration, is “a multiple vault tomb whose height is greater than its width and whose top is surmounted by an integrated front gable end pediment or flat, triangular or segmented design.” The tomb is constructed of Dorian Gray granite according to the specifications from the Albert Weiblen Marble and Granite Company contract with the family. Three variations of the granite are on the tomb: rusticated, polished, and flame cut. The granite probably came from the Albert Weiblen Marble and Granite Company stone quarry in Stone Mountain, Georgia. According to the tomb contract found in the company records, the specifications state that the “Granite is to be set on a full bed of Mortar [sic], composed of Portland cement, and clean sharp sand, and along the outer edge, sheet lead, set in a careful and workman like manner, plumb and straight.” The original mortar has been replaced with neoprene or rubberized caulk. The specifications also state that “All granite work to be solid piece and to

St. Roch Cemetery No. 1

Tomb Contract, Southeastern Architectural Archive

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Drip Edge, Schwegmann Family Tomb

Ancestry.com John W. Schwegmann Tomb, Metairie Cemetery

have the proper drip all the way aroung [sic].” Professor Knight noticed the drip edge when she happened to look up at the author while on top of the tomb taking measurements. The drip edge keeps rain water from eroding the side of the tomb by causing the running water to drip about two inches from the sides. Other than some slight discoloration of the polished granite on the door and pilasters, the Schwegmann Tomb is in great shape and is maintained through Perpetual Care Program with the Archdiocese of New Orleans paid by the George August Schwegmann family. The tomb has settled slightly in the back so that it leans back about one degree off vertical. The Family A number of North German tribes used the word “schwegman” which apparently descended from antiquity. As used by the Jutes, the word “schweg” means axe. The modern English word “wedge” is derived from it (Lauler). The Schwegmann Tomb is the burial place of seven members of the family: patriarch Garret Schwegmann; his wife Mary Hen-

ke; four of their five children George August, John William, Mary, and Theresa; and George August’s wife Annie Emmer. This Schwegmann family can be traced to John Gerhrd (Garret/George/Gerald) Schwegmann’s arrival in Louisiana October 29, 1860, according to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 18201902. The passenger list notes that the port of departure was Bremerhaven, Germany, the ship name was Senator Iken, and the port of arrival was New Orleans. According to a family tree on Ancestry.com constructed by one of Garret’s great-granddaughters, Garret’s older brother Bernh came to New Orleans from Germany on February 13, 1881. They had a sister Catherine who remained in Germany.

Ancestry.com Garret Schwegmann

Ancestry.com Mary Henke and sons

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In 1969, grandson John G. Schwegmann wrote a series of three articles for The TimesPicayune entitled “Just Like Meeting an Old Friend” which he expanded to a fourteen part series in 1978. In the first of the expanded series, John G. related a short biography of his grandfather, John George (Garret) Schwegmann, who was born August 2, 1839 in Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany. After arriving in New Orleans, Garret, a carpenter by trade, took a job cleaning privies. He enlisted in the Union Army – Company “D” of the Second Regiment, Louisiana Infantry – on August 29, 1862. He was wounded in battle at Marksville, Louisiana in May 1864 and was honorably discharged in September 1865. After the war, Garret worked as a butter clerk at a grocery run by two German brothers, Ferdinand and Henry Henke. On April 27, 1869, Garret married one of the Henke’s sisters, Mary. The ceremony was performed by Father Thevis at Holy Trinity Church. Garret Schwegmann opened his own counter service grocery store in 1869 after apprenticing under the Henke brothers. In the years following, Garret and Mary had five children: George August in 1870, Henry J. in 1873, Mary in 1876, Theresa in 1879, and John William (John G.’s father) in 1883. According to John G., Garret would sell the gro-

German New Orleans screenshot 901 Piety Street

Ancestry.com Ancestry.com John W. Schwegmann

George A. Schwegmann

cery business and take the family to California then return and begin business again. In 1891 after a five year non-compete clause with F. B. Thriffiley, he established a grocery at 901 Piety Street at the corner of Burgundy Street, with the family’s living quarters above the store. Once of age, the sons worked in the family business. Garret and George August had a falling out over Garret’s excessive drinking and George went to work for Mr. Olstein at the corner of Poydras and Baronne. In 1895 after several years of estrangement, George heard that his father was thinking of selling the family store. When George met with Garret about possible purchase, Garret was unaware that it was his own son. After realizing, he offered to sell the store for a lower price but George would not buy it for a penny less. Garret died in New Orleans on November 23, 1924 and his wife Mary Henke died October 8, 1923. According to John G., mothers would bring their daughters to the shop in search of an “outstanding grocery clerk.” George August met his wife Annie Emmer in this manner and married her on February 16, 1898. George and Annie lived at 912 Pauline Street with their two sons Leo Benjamin and George August, Jr. Leo attended Loyola University and remained in New Orleans. George, Jr. attended law

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Former Schwegmann Residence, 912 Pauline (2010)

Frey Family Tomb, St. Roch Cemetery No. 1

school at Georgetown and remained in Washington, D. C. where he was chief of the union catalog division of the Library of Congress. George, Sr. died October 10, 1959 and his wife Annie died July 15, 1916, becoming the first to be entombed in the Schwegmann Family Tomb. Henry joined his brother George in the grocery business in 1895. Within five years, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he married Katherine Dietrich and had six children and opened a saloon called Schwegmann’s Cafe. Theresa Schwegmann was married twice. In 1906, she married Charles Henry Uter who died only two years later. She later married G. A. Newald. Theresa died October 2, 1966. Mary Schwegmann never married and died on August 12, 1942. John William joined his brother George in the grocery business in 1898. (Ancestry.com) On June 19, 1909, John W. married Marie Margaretha Frey who was the daughter of Anton Frey who ran a meat stall in the French Market for over fifty years. John W. and Marie had six children: John G. in 1911, Anthony Joseph in 1913, Paul G. in 1914, Odilea Marie (Mrs. Charles Thomas Acquistapace) in 1915, Francis August in 1919, and Marguerite (Mrs.

Oneil Barrios). Francis died of cancer in lymph glands in 1940 and is entombed in the Frey family tomb with his mother Marie who died on Mardi Gras day 1932. The Frey Family Tomb is also in St. Roch Cemetery No. 1 and is near the Schwegmann Family Tomb. In 1939, John W. rented the business from George, Sr. when he became ill. Later that year John W. revolutionized grocery shopping in New Orleans by making the store self-service. Also that year, son John G. joined John W. in the grocery business. In 1946, John G. left the small family store, while brother Anthony stayed at 901 Piety Street, and joined with his brother Paul to open the first Schwegmann Brothers Giant Super Market at Elysian Fields Avenue and St. Claude Avenue. John W. eventually sold the store at 901 Piety Street in 1950 and joined his three sons in the super market business becoming an active partner in the chain’s latest store on Airline Highway. John W. died August 29, 1955. Under John G., the Schwegmann operation grew to eighteen stores including the world’s largest super market at the time in 1957. Schwegmann stores revolutionized the way people shopped with innovations such as in-store banks and gas pumps in the park-

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Charles L. Franck 901 Piety Street (2010) Schwegmann Bros. Giant Supermarket, Airline Highway

ing lot. In addition to these, John G. led the fight for trade rights such as opposing a law requiring a minimum mark up on alcohol and opposing milk price-fixing. This brush with the legal system led to an unsuccessful race for a Jefferson Parish seat in the state Senate. After an unsuccessful campaign in 1959 for the Jefferson Parish presidency, he won a seat in the state House in 1961. Seven years later, he was elected to the state Senate, and in 1975, he was elected to the Public Service Commission. John W. died in 1995 before the Schwegmann business was sold in 1997 by his son John F. Schwegmann. John W. Schwegmann is entombed in Metairie Cemetery in a large granite tomb designed by the Albert Weiblen Marble and Granite Company.

Aleta Grimbal on picasaweb.google.com John W. Schwegmann Tomb, Metairie Cemetery

The Research Research of tomb began with Google where the tomb’s inscription was found at http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/orleans/cemeteries/roch/1/square-c/10boniface/t-008-009.txt which had copyright info of http://usgwarchives.org/la/lafiles.htm and lead to http://www.usgwarchives.org/la/ orleans.htm and to http://www.usgwarchives. org/la/orleans/cemroch.htm. Also via Google John G. Schwegmann’s obituary was found at http://files. usgwarchives.org/la/orleans/newspapers/00000145.txt which lead to searching New Orleans Public Library for other obituar-

Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com

Anthony, John G., and Paul Schwegmann The Schwegmann Brothers

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ies in Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index at http://nutrias.org/~nopl/obits/obits.htm. Information from here was used to find copies of obituaries of all of those in the tomb in The Times-Picayune via a database called America’s Historical Newspapers and via microfillm at Tulane. In the index, names of immediate relatives not interred in the tomb were also found - Henry Schwegmann, Marie Frey, and Charles Uter - and found obituaries. The obituary for Theresa’s second husband, G. A. Newald, could not be found. At the Latter Library, Ancestry.Com Library Edition was used to find a copy of the arrival passenger list for John Gerhrd Schwegmann. Also found were copies of several of the original documents used on http://www. usgwarchives.org/la/orleans.htm. At the Louisiana Division of New Orleans Public Library, the vertical file on Schwegmann stores was requested which was very useful. It contained copies of a series of three articles written by John G. July 28, August 1, and August 4, 1969, entitled “Just Like Meeting an Old Friend.” The vertical file also contained copies of some of the articles that were rerun in 1978 with additional information as a fourteen part series on Wednesdays from June 28 to September 27. The rest of the series was found on microfilm at Tulane. The New Orleans Public Library website was searched where found pictures of 901 Piety Street from 1978 were found in the Mark J. Cooper Collection. The Tulane library catalog was searched with keywords Germans and New Orleans which provided some books and a DVD called German New Orleans, a WYES production from 2004. Screenshots from the DVD were taken. The DVD mentioned German Albert Weiblen who was a tomb and memorial builder. The

German New Orleans screenshot Albert Weiblen Tomb, Metairie Cemetery

documentary showed Weiblen’s tomb in Metairie Cemetery which looked very similar to the Schwegmann tomb. Google was searched for Albert Weiblen and information was found that the Southeastern Architectural Archives (SEAA) at Tulane had an exhibit in 2007. Kevin Williams of SEAA was consulted to ask if he thought that Weiblen had created the tomb. He thought so and found the tomb contract signed by G. A. Schwegmann in the Albert Weiblen Marble and Granite Company Office Records. At Special Collections in Jones Hall, the vertical file for Schwegmann store was requested and was found to contain transparencies of two of the screenshots from the DVD. They had some information typed below picture. The author signed up for a fourteen day trial with Ancestry.com and was able to find Garret Schwegmann’s great-granddaughter, Nancy Lauler. Mrs. Lauler was contacted to ask for access to her family tree which provided extremely useful information. She was also very pleased with the information that was provided to her by the author. Jody Rome at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Cemeteries was contacted to inquire about the date of construction of the tomb. Their database did not have that information.

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Sources for Cities of the DeAD Albert Weiblen Marble and Granite Company Records. Collection 39, Southeastern Architectural Archive. Jones Hall. Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118. Ancestry.com Library Edition. Milton H. Latter Memorial Branch. New Orleans Public Library. New Orleans, LA 70115. Charles L. Franck / Franck-Bertacci Photographers Collection. The Historic New Orleans Collection. http://louisdl.louislibraries.org. Dead Space : Defining the New Orleans Creole cemetery : St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: Guidelines for Preservation & Restoration. Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 2002. Florence, Robert, and Mason Florence. New Orleans Cemeteries: Life in the Cities of the Dead. Batture Press, 1997. German New Orleans. Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation, 2004. Huber, Leonard Victor, Mary Louise Christovich, Peggy McDowell, Betsy Swanson, Edith Elliott Long, Bernard Lemann, and Doyle Gertjejansen. New Orleans Architecture, Volume III: The Cemeteries. Pelican Publishing, 1974. Lauler, Nancy. Schwegmann Family Tree. Ancestry.com. Louisiana Archives. USGen Web Project. http://usgwarchives.org/la/lafiles.htm. Merrill, Ellen C. Germans of Louisiana. Pelican Publishing, 2005. Marc J. Cooper Photograph Collection. Louisiana Division. New Orleans Public LIbrary. http://nutrias.org/photos/cooper/cooper.htm. Obituaries. The Times-Picayune. Various years. America’s Historical Newspapers. Online database. Tulane University. Obituaries. The Times-Picayune. Various years. Microfilm. Tulane University. Schwegmann, John G. “Just Like Meeting an Old Friend” fourteen part series. The Times-Picayune. June 28 to September 27, 1978. Schwegmann Vertical File. Louisiana Division. New Orleans Public Library. New Orleans, LA 70112. Schwegmann Vertical File. Louisiana Research Collection. Jones Hall. Tulane University. New Orleans, LA 70118. Where New Orleans Shopped. Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation, 2002.

Anthony DelRosario - Master in Preservation Studies - Tulane School of Architecture