818-820 St. Louis St.

Square: 70 Lot Number: 11424-01

Property Images

Square Images

Vieux Carré Commission Evaluation:

Main: Blue to purple [Hermann-Grima House]. The high style home of Samuel Hermann, designed by William Brand in 1831. The proposed rating change is based on the Museum's status as a meticulously restored, researched and furnished complex, as much as for its historical and architectural significance. Stable: Blue to purple. 2-story brick stable constructed c. 1851 for Felix Grima. The importance of this building derives from its association with the Hermann-Grima Complex.

Purple
Portion of Building Stables
Material Masonry
Purple
Portion of Building Main
Material Masonry

Dimensions

Frontage 49′ 0″ 0‴
2 63′ 11″ 3‴
3 49′ 0″ 0‴
4 63′ 11″ 3‴

Chain of Title

Last Updated: Monday, June 14th 1982
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Thursday, January 3rd 1924

Record Source COB
Volume 368
Page 517
Authority J. Douglas ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot A & B "A lot designated as Lot "B", measuring 63' 11" 3''' front on St. Louis Street by a depth of 161' 7" 3''' b.e.p.l., and another portion of ground designated as Lot "A", measuring 49' front on St. Louis Street by 63' 11" 3''' b.e.p.l."

Tuesday, June 7th 1921

Record Source COB
Volume 336
Page 50
Authority A. Cooper ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot A & B "A portion of ground designated as Lot A, measuring 49' front on St. Louis Street by a depth of 63' 11" 3''' b.e.p.l.; another portion designated as Lot B, measuring 63' 11" 3''' front on St. Louis Street by 161' 7" 3''' in depth b.e.p.l.; and a portion designated as Lot 20 fronting on Conti Street, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon, shown on sketch by E. L. Eustis, dated April 29, 1921, annexed hereto." Present-day Lots No. 11421-01 "A" and "B" or 820 St. Louis Street; No. 11437 or 819-825 Conti Street. Other transactions: COB 332/572; 252/572; 141/229; 138/873; 111/276; 109/915; 103/873.

Monday, April 20th 1874

Record Source COB
Volume 103
Page 298
Record Type sheriff's sale

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Citizens Bank of Louisiana

From the suit of Citizens Bank of Louisiana vs. Felix Grima. Lot A.

Thursday, May 9th 1850

Record Source COB
Volume 49
Page 514
Authority A. Doriocourt ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot A. Original Act: 3/128. "A lot of ground measuring 49' front on St. Louis Street by 63' 11" in depth, in conformity with plan by L. H. Pilie, dated April 13, 1850, deposited in this study." (No plan attached to this act).

Saturday, February 10th 1844

Record Source COB
Volume 36
Page 71
Authority A. Mazureau ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot B. Original Act: 29/16. "A lot situated on St. Louis Street measuring 60' front by 150' in depth, together with the main house of brick and all dependencies also of brick construction. The property is bounded on one side by the property belonging to the Succession of Bertus and on the other side by that belonging to Dr. Dupuy, Francoise Pierre, f.w.c., and Mme. Decuir."

Friday, January 26th 1844

Record Source Original Act
Volume 29
Page 7
Authority A. Mazureau ( Notary )
Authority Date Friday, January 26th 1844
Record Type [sale?]

Lot B.

Monday, November 6th 1843

Record Source Original Act
Volume 28
Page 85
Authority A. Mazureau ( Notary )
Authority Date Monday, November 6th 1843
Record Type [sale?]

Lot B.

Thursday, February 10th 1842

Record Source Original Act
Volume 36
Page 50
Authority Felix Grima ( Notary )
Authority Date Thursday, February 10th 1842
Record Type [sale?]

Lot B. " ...a lot of ground together with a two-story brick house and other buildings... "

Wednesday, March 16th 1831

Record Source Original Act
Volume 7
Page 129
Authority W. Christy ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, March 16th 1831
Record Type building contract

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

William Brand ,   Samuel Hermann Sr.

Lot B. Building contract between William Brand, builder, for Samuel Hermann to build on the back portion of a lot on St. Louis Street a three-story brick house. Second contract.

Wednesday, February 16th 1831

Record Source Original Act
Volume 7
Page 77
Authority W. Christy ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, February 16th 1831
Record Type building contract

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

William Brand ,   Samuel Hermann Sr.

Lot B. Building contract between William Brand and Samuel Hermann for a two-story brick dwelling on St. Louis Street.

Saturday, November 6th 1830

Record Source Original Act
Volume 12
Page 835
Authority ( Notary )
Authority Date Saturday, November 6th 1830
Record Type [sale?]

Lot A. " ...the land measuring in F.M., 45' 11" front on St. Louis Street by 60' in depth. The front part of said lot is bounded by property of George W. Morgan, or assigns who is this day Samuel Hermann and the rear part by property of the vendor... together with a house thereon... "

Monday, May 19th 1823

Record Source Original Act
Volume 23
Page 230
Authority Michel de Armas ( Notary )
Authority Date Monday, May 19th 1823
Record Type [sale?]

Lot B. " ...a site situated on St. Louis Street, 60' front by 150' in depth, bounded on one side by the property of Edouard Bertus and on the other side by property of Etienne Carraby... together with a house and other dependencies... "

Friday, October 25th 1816

Record Source Original Act
Volume 9
Page 458
Authority Marc Lafitte ( Notary )
Authority Date Friday, October 25th 1816
Record Type [sale?]

Lot A. " ...the main house built "en colombage" on the front of the lot and all the other buildings on interior of lot... "

Tuesday, April 30th 1816

Record Source Original Act
Volume 8
Page 199
Authority Marc Lafitte ( Notary )
Authority Date Tuesday, April 30th 1816
Record Type [sale?]

Lot B. " ...the main house on the front of said lot and all other buildings on interior of said lot... bounded on one side by property of the vendor and on the other side by property of Jean Baptiste Lafonta... "

Friday, October 13th 1815

Record Source Original Act
Volume 9A
Page 295
Authority M. de Armas ( Notary )
Authority Date Friday, October 13th 1815
Record Type succession

Lot A. Inherited.

Friday, October 13th 1815

Record Source Original Act
Volume 9A
Page 295
Authority Michel de Armas ( Notary )
Authority Date Friday, October 13th 1815
Record Type will

Lot B. Last Will and Testament of Mlle. Marie Louise Liotau... lived on St. Louise Street... never married... "I leave to Evariste Blanc the surplus of all my possessions... "

Saturday, December 31st 1796

Record Source Historical Document
Authority Tax List ( )
Record Type [sale?]

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Marie Louise Liotau

Tax List, 4th Ward - Wilson Collection. Lot No. 51 and Lot No. 52 in the name of Widow Liotau located between Widow Monge at No. 50 and Dr. Joseph Zamora, Lot No. 53.

Thursday, June 14th 1792

Record Source Unknown
Authority 14th Judicial District ( )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot A. Lot B. Inherited from her mother, Mme. Marie Louise Joseph Constant, wife of Francois Liotau. April 9, 1798... the family mansion, No. 98 St. Louis Street, where he died was confiscated and occupied by the Federal Authorities for something over a year... "

Saturday, April 29th 1747

Record Source Historical Document
Volume 1
Page 192
Authority Louisiana Historical Quarterly ( )
Record Type marriage contract

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Marie Louise Joseph Content ,   Francois Lioteau

L.H.Q. Vol. 18, No. 29288 fo. 1, 4344 - 4pp. Marriage contract of Francois Lioteau, a native of Dunkirk, widower of Isabelle de Laistre, master mason in this colony, on the one side and Marie Louise Content, minor daughter of Joseph Content and Jeanne Diagary, his wife, a native of Mobile. The groom could not write. Signed: Marie Louise Joseph Content. H. Buquoy, Legros, Marie Anne Orgeron. (___ illegible) Lenormand. Chantalou. Henry, Notary.

Monday, January 1st 1731

Record Source Map
Authority Gonichon Map ( Map )
Record Type [land grant and/or sale and/or succession]

Lists to one named St. Jacques at Lot No. 191 and to one named Favier at Lot No. 190.

Thursday, January 1st 1728

Record Source Map
Authority Broutin Map ( Map )
Record Type [land grant and/or sale and/or succession]

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Avette ,   Saulnier

Lists to Widow Avette at Lot No. 233 and to Widow Saulnier at Lot No. 232.

Thursday, January 1st 1722

Record Source Map
Authority de la Tour Map ( Map )
Record Type land grant

Lists Rene Duban, Workman of the Company, and since it has been granted to Claude Joseph Bongillan, called Brizetout meanwhile, who had done nothing since, neither fence nor building nor drainage ditch done the 21 May 1728. Marginal note: To St. Jacque or Jcque Kindelar, at Lot No. 378. Jean Bapte Creoly, Workman of the Company, part of Lot No. 255.

Citations

"The Christan Woman's Exchange
Open Hearth Kitchen and Courtyard
Hermann-Grima House - 1831"

— Brochure

The Christian Woman's Exchange

— Business Card
Author: Christian Woman's Exchange

"The Christian Woman's Exchange
820 St. Louis Street
New Orleans, L.A.
'The Aristocrat of the Vieux Carre'"

— Brochure

Building contract

Acceptance of Brand's contract for Grima House, $27,493.75.

Wm. Christy, Vol. 11/662

— Notarial Act (New Orleans Notarial Archives)
Author: William Christy, N.P. Date: Saturday, January 1st 1831

" ...Felix Grima, Notary Public, died April 14, aged eighty-nine years... born in New Orleans."

p.3, c.3

— Times-Democrat
Date: Friday, April 15th 1887

Three exterior views and two interior views of the Grima House.

— Architectural Art and its Allies, Vol. 2/9, p. 17
Date: Friday, February 1st 1907

Grima House
"It is known as the "Grima House" despite the fact that Felix Grima a noted attorney who owned it for many years, did not build it.

While it has not been definitely ascertained just when it was erected, or what architect designed it, the probabilities are that Samuel Hermann, Sr., a wealthy commission merchant, had it erected soon after he purchased the site, May 19, 1823 from George W. Morgan, Sheriff of New Orleans. The mansion remained the home of the Hermanns until 1844 when, owning to financial difficulties, Samuel Hermann and his son were forced to realize upon all their properties. It was then that Felix Grima purchased the mansion from Mrs. Emerante Becnel Hermann, and it since remained the Grima home through the rigors of the War Between the States. In 1921 it was sold to the present owners, the Christian Women's Exchange."

p.218

— Old New Orleans: A History of the Vieux Carré
Author: Stanley Clisby Arthur Date: Friday, January 1st 1937

"The Grima House possesses one of the most beautiful courtyards of the Old Square. Refreshments may be secured from the courtyard kitchen within. Little is known about the early history of the building, but it is believed to have been erected in the 1820's by Samuel Hermann, a wealthy commission merchant. In 1844 the property passed into the possession of Felix Grima. In 1921 it became the Christian Women's Exchange."

— New Orleans City Guide, p. 239
Date: Saturday, January 1st 1938

Tourism Group Fights Quarter Hotel Project

— States-Item
Date: Tuesday, January 15th 1963

Shopping Royal

— Vieux Carre Courier
Author: Pat Phillips Date: Friday, September 5th 1969

"The Hermann-Grima House 1831
Home of the Christian Woman's Exchange"

— Brochure
Date: Friday, January 1st 1971

Restoration of Quarter House Cited

— Times-Picayune
Author: Jeanie Blake Date: Sunday, September 19th 1971

Quarter House Is Historic Site

— Times-Picayune
Date: Thursday, November 11th 1971

Historic House Being Restored

— Times-Picayune
Author: Don Lee Keith Date: Sunday, November 14th 1971

"'Golden Age' Restoration:

[w/photos]

Samuel Hermann's new home on St. Louis street in the French Quarter was an innovation in the year 1831. For one thing, Hermann was a European, and he was building an American house in an area where the architecture was predominantly French and Spanish."

— Newspaper article
Date: Sunday, September 10th 1972

Historic Home Benefit Held

— Times-Picayune
Author: Rhonda Nabonne Date: Saturday, October 6th 1973

Hermann-Grima House Visit at Christmastime Suggested

— Times-Picayune
Author: Stella Pitts Date: Sunday, December 23rd 1973

Hermann-Grima House Has Only Restored Quarter Stable

— Times-Picayune
Author: Stella Pitts Date: Sunday, October 27th 1974

Social Scene: Recreating the Golden Age of New Orleans

— States-Item
Date: Monday, September 22nd 1975

Kitchen Report Completed

— Preservation Press
Author: V. A. Patterson Date: Sunday, May 1st 1977

Reliving a Golden Age

— States-Item
Date: Tuesday, October 11th 1977