437 Royal St.

437 Royal Street - Pavie-Marcy House
Erected 1795
Architect, possibly Barthelemy Lafon
Builder, possibly Barthelemy Lafon
An important early house now much altered, especially on the ground floor, built together with the adjacent building at the corner of St. Louis Street. The original appearance of these two structures is shown in a drawing in the Notarial Archives by Benjamin Buisson dated January 2, 1842. The wrought iron S-shaped balcony brackets are almost the only still recognizable original detail.
In January 1816 the house was advertised for sale as part of the estate of the late Joseph Pavie and described as a "brick house in Royal Street, now occupied by Mr. Brown; " and again described as "a brick house with an upper story --- plus a two story brick kitchen roofed with tiles established in the interior of the said half-lot." In August 1817 it was mentioned in an ad by "Mr. Michoud whose store is presently in Royal Street in the Pavie house between the apothecary and the Banque de la Louisiane." In October the same year, Michoud moved across the street "to Mr. Seignouret's new house" (now 520 Royal Street). In the 1816 sale, Nicholas Girod bought this and the adjacent property which were sold by his heirs in 1842. Jean Jacques Jaudot bought this building and sold it in May 1850 to Peter Marcy whose heirs sold it in June 1886.
In January 1797 Josef Pavy (Pavie) had bought the property from Bernard Tremoulet, including "a principal house and various other buildings." According to the act of sale, these buildings had been built by Tremoulet who had inherited the property in 1792 from the widow of Juan Soubie. It is possible that the buildings were designed and built by the architect Barthelemy Lafon, who is known to have been engaged in business activities with Tremoulet at this time. Any buildings which stood on the property at the time Tremoulet inherited it, were destroyed in the fire of December 8, 1794.

437 Royal Street
Pavie-Marcy House
Reference List (brief recapitulation of chain of title entries)

Mortgage

Of a 60' x 12' lot on Royal St. adjoining Bank of Louisiana by Boutee, in addition to the house & lot of Mr. Pavie & a 2nd lot on Royal St. 34' x 120' adjoining the house of Madame Thomasson & the house & lot of Joseph Tricou as security for the Navigation Company contract (to Joseph Pitot).

J. Lynd, Vol. 2/125

FOR SALE - The property belonging to the estate of the late Joseph Pavie consisting of:
A brick house, on the corner of Royal and St. Louis streets with a large two story brick store fronting on St. Louis street, and now occupied by Mr. Seignouret.
Another brick house, adjoining the one just mentioned, in Royal street, now occupied by Mrs. Brown...

Lease

Of 123 Royal between St. Louis & Conti streets by N. Girod.

F. de Armas, Vol. 38/91

"Visit Cohen and Sons, Vogue, Staples:

[w/photo]

Steve Cohen is pictured above with a hand-painted, six-foot wooden Indian which sells for $400 at James H. Cohen & Sons, 437 Royal Street."