500-546 St. Peter St.

Act of sale

Translation from the Spanish of the sale of certain lots, etc., by Pedro Moris, of New Orleans, to Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, also of the same city.

"SALE. Let it be known by this public deed that I, Pedro Moris, a resident of this city, am authorized and do sell really and effectively to Senor Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, Secretary of War and Notary of the Royal Hacienda, four lots situated on Saint Peter Street, and forming [the] corner with other streets and fronting on the Levee, bounded on one side by the house of Senor F. M. Serviendo, of the office of the Exchequer (Contadoria), and on the other side by that of Raymondo Gayarre; the two lots facing the Levee were bought by me from Raymondo [?], by act passed before the undersigned notary, two years ago, and the other two lots having been bought from the said Senor Andres Almonester, by act passed also before the present notary, on the twenty-eight day of November 1775. And I sell them (viz. the above four lots) to you (Don Andres Almonester y Roxas) with the same obligation of paying each year to the Mayordomo de proprios (the city Steward) fifty-one pesos of rent, without power of redemption.

Besides (the said Pedro Moris) sell five lots facing the Gardens of the Hospital of Charity, which same lots were adjudicated to me, as highest bidder, at the public auction of the property of Catalina de los Fuentes, on the fifteenth of May of last year, as appears from the judicial records of the Public Sale held in the office of the said buyer (Don Andres Almonester).

I also sell two other ordinary lots, with a house on them, one measuring forty-five feet in frontage and the other thirty feet in width, situated in St. Louis Street, bounded on one side by the house of Andres Rixner, and on other side by the house of the seller (Pedro Moris).

These lots were purchased from Pedro Norenan [?] by deed passed before the said Don Andres Almonester.

I (Pedro Moris) sell to you (Don Andres Almonester y Roxas) besides, a mulatto named Dominic, aged fifty-two years, which said negro was bought from the said Don Andres Almonester by deed passed before the undersigned notary on the twenty-eighth of November; also a negro named Crispin, aged fifty-two years, Mariana, his wife, aged thirty-seven years, belonging to me, having been purchased from Don Juan du Forest, acting as attorney for Don Gaspardo Pictet, by act passed before the said Don Andres Almonester on the twenty-third of January 1776; also another negro named Francisco Sampson, aged thirteen years, which I purchased from Don Vincente Horan by act passed before the said notary on the first of March of this present year; also a negress named Teresa, aged twenty-five years which I purchased from Senor Don Luis de Unzaga Amezaga, by act before the same notary on the twenty-third of February of last year; also a negro named Santiago Congo, suffering from his lungs and nerves, which I purchased from Don Enriques Dupre, by deed passed on the third day of this present month; I also sell to you (Don Andres Almonester y Roxas) a negro named Juan Batiste, a Creole, of forty-five years, and a Creole negress named Luise, with her children Francisco, aged seven, Juana, aged six, Augustin aged three and Pedro aged one, all of whom I bought from Pedro Corrolay, by act passed on the twentieth of November 1775; also a negro named Francisco, aged thirty-seven, a barrel-maker, bought by me from Juan Luvirai [?] by act passed on the seventeenth of November 17755 also another negro named Maturin, aged forty, a carpenter, bought by me from Don Martin Braquier on the twenty-fifth of November, 1775, and a mulatto named Augustin, a shoemaker, bought by me from Don Domingo de Morando the seventeenth of November, 1775 sell these nine (mentioned) slaves with the stipulation that they remain subject to the charge and mortgage for the payment of the total amount which has to be paid, according to the contract of the 'Abasto & of the taverns and cabarets, to the Charity Hospital, and without any other obligation as per certificate in the records of the undersigned notary, which total property I sell (Don Andres Almonester y Roxas) for the price of eight thousand and thirty pesos real money, which the said Don Andres Almonester has paid me in letters of change, payable in Cadiz, which I have drawn, accepted and received value for, and in consideration of which I authorize proper delivery (of said property); and I renounce the exception de la non enumerate pecunia and authorize a formal receipt be given (the purchaser) by which I part as owner of the property, its possession, titles, right of disposal and all actions both real and personal on the said houses, lots and slaves which formerly were mine, all of which I hereby cede, denounce, and transfer to the said buyer, and his heirs in order that my said property pass in good will to him by virtue of this deed which has been authorized by me, and by real delivery, and by which he has acquired possession without the necessity of other proof, for the faithful execution of which sale I obligate my person and belongings, giving to the judges of H.M. (His Majesty) the right to carry it out with all the power of the law. I also renounce to all laws, rights and privileges in my favor and to everything in general contrary the rate.

And now I, the said Don Andres Almonester accept this deed and by it acknowledge having received the houses, lots and slaves above enumerated, forming the total of what has been sold to me and delivered upon payment of the money. I renounce the legal proof of delivery and the proof of other things not necessary, and I hereby authorize formal receipt to be given in my name and I promise and obligate myself to pay each year and perpetually to the Steward of this city the fifty-one pesos of rent levied on the four lots herewith sold to me and situated on St. Peter Street, and I likewise acknowledge having mortgaged the last named nine slaves herewith sold to me to pay the amount which must be paid, according to the contract which Don Pedro Moris made for the 'abasta' of taverns and cabarets, to the profit of the said property of this city, and of the Hospital of Charity.

Witness -
Don Pedro Corrolay

Thus we (Pedro Moris and Don Andres Almonester y Roxas) have authorized this deed to be drawn up in the city of New Orleans on this thirteenth of March 1777.

Witness -
Don Pedro Corrolay
Don Joseph Adrian de la Plazas
Don Luis Lioteau.

By virtue of these present I notary give faith to the above. They signed.

Pedro Moris
Andres Almonester y Roxas

Before me.
Juan Bautista Garic, Notary Public"

J.-B. Garic

Building contract

"Joseph Duguet, mason, to build brick warehouse for Joseph Revnes (next to Pontalba)."

P. Pedesclaux, Vol. 23/6

Building contract

Between Claude Gurlie and Joseph Guillot, builders, and Joseph Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba. For a house at St. Peter and Levee, to have fire damage repaired. Plans by Francois Correjolles. Also, to repair Pontalba's house adjoining the above, facing Place d'Armes and extending to Chartres Street.

L.T. Caire, Vol. 3/88

Building contract

Of Amede H. Sterlin and Lovinski/Baudin, builders, for "Menuiserie et Autres." For 5 houses forming 2 buildings for Philippe Avegno at corner of Levee and Toulouse. 11 round head doors to stores, etc., etc. Good specs, work to be directed by Jean Bourgerold, arch[itect], $5,3000.00.

H. Pedesclaux, Vol. 2/818

[N.B. Francis de Ende and Philipe Harty to do masonry work.]

Building contract

Between Claude Gurlie and Joseph Guillot, builders, and Joseph Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba. For brick building(s) at corner Toulouse and Levee, $25,000.

L.T. Caire, Vol. 21/682

Building contract

"United States of America,
State of Louisiana,
City of New Orleans

Be it remembered that this day the twentieth of the month of July one thousand eight hundred and forty nine and the seventy fourth year of the independence of the United States of America.

Before me, Louis T. Caire, a notary public in and for the city and parish of New Orleans duly commissioned and sworn and in the presence of the witnesses hereunder names and subscribed.

Personally appeared Mrs. Michaela Leonard Antonia Almonester, the wife separated from bed & board of the Baron Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba domicilated at Paris, France were she resides in the Suburb Ste. Honoré, street number 43 & 45 of the first part,

And Mr. Joseph Whitman Jewel, residing in this city, herein acting as attorney in fact general and special of Mr. Samuel Stewart, temporarily absent from this City, by virtue of a certain power of attorney granted to him per act passed before James Pryor Gilly, a notary public in this City, bearing date the tenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty nine a certified copy whereof has been exhibited to me, Notary, and returned to the holder thereof of the second part.

Which appearers, have handed over to me Notary a certain agreement under private signature, which they do by those present acknowledge and confirm as their act, signed by them on the seventh cay of June in presence of Messrs James Stewart and Hypolite Dusuau de la Croix, the purpourt and tenor are in the following words and figures, to-wit:

Agreement between Madame de Pontalba and Monsieur Steward

Madame de Pontalba being desirous of having a block of houses erected fronting the Place d'Armes, and each end of Chartres and Levee Street. It is hereby agreed upon and understood by and between the said Mme. de Pontalba and Mr. Steward as follows, viz.

The said obligate and bind himself to erect and build the said block to be composed of sixteen houses in conformity with the plans and specifications accepted and signed by the parties, the said houses and dependances (sic) thereof to be erected with every possible solidity and care and all materials employed to be of the first quality.

The said buildings shall be executed and delivered in ten months, from the first of next September.

The buildings now existing on the said property shall be taken down and demolished by the said Mr. Steward at his own cost and Mme. de Pontalba abandons to him all the materials in said buildings beside the price hereafter stipulated.

It is also further understood and agreed upon by and between the said parties that in the event of the said buildings not being delivered to the said Mme. Pontalba at the expiration of the aforesaid term of ten months, the said Mr. Steward binds himself to pay unto the said Mme. de Pontalba as damages the sum of four thousand dollars per month until the delivery of said buildings.

It is further agreed that in the event of any difficulty or misunderstanding between the said parties, relative to the said buildings all such difficulty or misunderstanding shall be adjudged by one or two arbitrators named by each party, which arbitrators in case of disagreement shall select a third arbitrator and the decision of this third arbitrator shall be binding on the parties aforesaid and without appeal.

The present building will be done for the price of one hundred and fifty six thousand dollars to be paid in the following manner.

First payment when the foundations are in, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Second payment when the first tier of joists is on, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Third payment when the second tier of joists is on, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Fourth payment when the third tier of joists is on, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Fifth payment when the granite is set, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Sixth payment when the roof is on, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Seventh payment when the plastering is brown coated, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars.

[T]he eight[th] and last payment when the building is compleated [sic] agreably [sic] to plans and specifications, say nineteen thousand five hundred dollars, making in all one hundred and fifty six thousand dollars.

The seventh of June 1849

[Signed]
de Pontalba née Almonester
Samuel Steuart

Upon all the walls at the height of six inches above the yards, shall be laid two courses of brick work in best hydraulic cement, having a double course of strong new slates laid also with cement, between the two courses of brickwork.

Fire walls - Fire walls shall be built up 1 ½ bricks thick between the houses, and eighteen inches high above the line of the slates, having a course of slates laid in cement under the coping, and the coping laid and carefully pointed with cement.

Bricks - The bricks for the first story shall be of best hard and well burnt lake bricks, using the old bricks as far as they will go. All the other walls shall be of best hard and well burnt country bricks.

Baltimore front - The fronts from the top of first story upwards, shall be laid with best Baltimore pressed bricks, properly bonded to the brick work behind, and carefully pointed and cleaned down when the buildings are finished; with cornices as per drawings.

Mortar - The mortar for the foundations shall be made of best, fresh burnt Thomaston lime, or other of equal quality with one half of sharp sand, and one half river sand. The mortar for all the brickwork above the foundations shall be made of best lime and sharp sand without any admixture of river sand.

Granite - The sills, the pillows, friezes, and moulded cornices of the first story; the sills and lintels of the doors & windows at the back of front houses, and of the kitchen buildings, shall all be of the best quality of blue granite from Quincy, cut and set in the best manner, and in uniformity with the plans; strongly tied to the brick work and floor joist with iron anchors; all properly cleaned down, pointed and repaired where any damage may have happened to it during the finishing of the buildings.

Marble - Moulded lintels to all the front windows, sills to all front windows, a string course nine inches high under the upper balcony, a string course four inches high under the attic windows, a string course four inches high under the dentils, and one of two inches high over the dentils of the cornice; and the upper mouldings of the cornice.

Seven inches high, together with the raking moulding of the pediments, and the margins round attic windows and pediments shall all be made of the best white marble from the quarries of New York, or of other white marble of equal quality, all cut and set in the best manner; all cleaned down and made into a perfect condition when the buildings shall have been finished. All the marble and granite works shall have the joints and beds at right angles to the fronts, and properly secured to the brickwork with cramp irons.

If the marble be cut at the quarry, it shall be carefully boxed up to prevent the corners or edges from being damages, as it is to be well understand that no block or piece of marble or granite which may be defective or injured in any manner, shall be allowed to be placed in the building.

Fire trimmers - Brick arches shall be built under all the chimney hearths throughout buildings.

Chimney bars - Wrought iron chimney bars two inches wide by half inch thick with anchor ends, shall be placed under the arches over the openings of the fireplaces.

Flues - A separate flue not less than thirteen inches by nine inches in the clear, and well plastered inside shall be built up from each fireplace to the top of the roof, also two flues from attic of each house.

Coping of front walls - The upper course or covering of all the front walls shall be of marble, agreeable to the front elevation and laid in best hydraulic cement.

Timber - All the timber and planks shall be of the best quality of cypress, without cracks, sap, bad knots, or any other defects. All the works in joinery for the interior shall be of best cypress wood or of white pine, without sap, cracks, knots, or other defects. Particular care must be taken that a space not less than nine inches of brick work shall be built between the wood work and the chimney flues throughout the buildings.

Floor joists to front houses - The floor joists of the first Story and over the front rooms of Second Story shall be 16 in by 3 in, the trimmer joists 16 in by 5 in.

Floor joists of the Second Story 14 in by 3 in, the trimmer joists 14 in by 5 in.

Floor joists of the Third story 12 in by 3 in, the trimmer joists 12 in by 5 in, all placed at distances of 16 in from centre to centre.

Floor joists of Kitchen Buildings - The first and Second floors of joists for the Kitchen buildings shall be 10 in by 3 in, the trimmer joists 10 in by 4 in, the ceiling joists 8 in by 3 in. All the joists of the kitchen buildings shall project outside so as to support the galleries and roofs, and placed 16 in apart from centre to centre. Those forming the galleries at the rear of front buildings shall be of the same depth as the joists of each floor. The floor joists over the corner stores shall be supported in the centre by beats 12 in by 9 in placed upon cast iron columns ire accordance with the plans.

A piece of flag stone shall be placed under each end of the beams.

All the joists shall be secured to the walls by wrought iron anchors, placed at distances of about eight feet apart.

Roofs over Kitchens - Wall plates 3 in by 4 in shall be placed to receive the rafters of the kitchen buildings, properly lapped and nailed at the joints and angles, and united by iron bars of one inch by ¼ inch, wherever the chimney flues intervene. The rafters 6 in by 3 in placed 16 in apart from centre to centre.

Wood lintels - A wood lintel 8 in by 4 in shall be placed inside over each door & window opening extending six inches beyond the opening at each end, and a brick arch built over each lintel.

Wood bricks - Wood bricks of dry timber 3 in by 4 in shall be placed in the walls to receive the fixing of base round the rooms, and the trimmings to the jambs of doors and windows.

Roofs over Front Buildings - A wall plate 8 in by 3 in lapped and well nailed at the joints and angles shall be placed at the proper height to receive the principal rafters of the roofs.

The roofs shall be framed as per Section:
The principal (sic) rafters 8 in by 4 in
Purlines 9" x 4"
King post, middle 4 x 4 head 8" x 4"
Tie Beam 6" x 4"
Ridge piece 8" x 4"
Common rafters 6" x 3"
Ceiling joists 6" x 3"

The roof of the front buildings shall be made a croupe with a double inclination, and hipped at the angles. Those of the Kitchens shall have a single inclination.

Slating - All the roofs shall be covered with best Dutchess slates put on with copper nails upon strong sheathing planks; the hips and ridges covered with the best English tiles all warranted for twelve months after the buildings are finished.

Scuttles - A scuttle, covered with copper shall be made in the roof of each house, and a step ladder to ascend to the same from the attic story. An outside ladder shall also be placed on each roof from the scuttle to the ridge.

Copper work - Copper gutters thirty inches wide, made of twelve pound sheets, properly grooved and soldered at the joints shall be placed to the fronts and ends of all the roofs of front buildings, pinned three inches into the brick work. Copper leaders 8 in by 9 in shall be placed to conduct the water from the gutters through the cornice into the pipe heads outside. Copper hanging gutters shall be fixed to the roofs of kitchen buildings, front buildings, and to the rear of front buildings.

There shall be two copper pipes 6 in diameter with large gilt heads and cast iron pipe at the bottom of front pipe to each house, to conduct the water from the roofs to the grounds.

Floors - The floors throughout the building (except the ground floors) shall be made of the best quality of cypress planks grooved and tongued at the joints, 5 inches wide, and 1 ¼ in thick without sap, knots or other defects, perfectly dry, and secret nailed, the head tongued, and the surface planed smooth after being nailed down. The lower floors shall be of first quality cypress planks 1 ½ inches thick, with square points, nailed down upon cedar sleepers 2 in by 4 in laid upon a pavement of bricks laid with sharp sand and hydraulic cement, and covered with charcoal dust.

The lower floors of the Kitchens shall be of the same materials, and laid down in the same way as those of the stores above described.

Partitions - All the partitions inside of the buildings shall be made of timber 3 x 4 inches, fixed at distances of 16 inches from centre to centre, the door posts 6 x 4 in heads and sills 4 x 4 inches.

Plinths or Base - The plinths of the lower Story shall be made of hydraulic cement. The base to the upper stories of front buildings shall be 13 inches deep, having an upper moulding and double face.

The base to the Attics, and to the Kitchen buildings shall be 8 inches high, beaded on top.

Windows - The windows of the front buildings shall have sashes 1 ¾ inches thick, double hung in strong cased frames, the sashes glazed with the best New Jersey glass, strong clear and of the best quality, the sashes hung with best flax lines iron weights, and two inch axle pulleys. The windows to be of the respective sizes shown upon the elevation. The sliding windows of the attics shall for the front be each with three lights, as per elevation fixed outside.

The windows at the rear of the attics shall be made four feet high, and the same width as those of the front, but will not have iron work outside.

Venetian blinds shall be hung to the rear windows of the front houses.

The windows to the Kitchen buildings shall have plain frames, and strong sashes with springs in the jambs, and shutters made of floor boards, with two bars well nailed.

The windows to the fronts of stores shall be made with sashes two inches thick, moveable shutters framed and paneled, all made the best manner and properly secured with all necessary fastenings and iron work of the best description, that may be required for the safety of the stores.

Blinds - Framed and paneled shutters shall be hung and properly fastened to the inside of all the front windows next the streets, to the second & third stories, with blind slats in the middle shutters.

Doors - All the folding doors to the fronts of stores shall be made 3 inches thick with moveable paneled shutters, and all requisite iron works and fastenings of the best kind, each doorway having a good front door lock, strong bolts inside and hung with three bunch butt hinges on each door.

The front entrance doors will each be in a single fold, framed and paneled 3 inches thick, hung in strong rebatted and moulded door frames with three 6 inch butt hinges, and a good front door lock with three night keys, a transom, and fan light, with cast iron ornament on the outside agreeably the elevation.

The kitchen doorways shall each have a pair of sash doors hung inside to rebatted frames, and battened doors made of floor planks hung outside, all properly hung and fastened with strong hinges, bolts and a good American lock on each doorway.

The doorways between the stairways and back galleries upon the 2d and 3rd stories shall each have a pair of glass doors properly hung and fastened, and battened doors hung outside, with all the requisite bolts, etc.

All the inside doors to the 2d and 3d stories of the front buildings shall be 8 feet 6 inches high by 3 feet, 6 inches wide, 1 ¾ inches thick framed with wide margins and six panels moulded both sides hung in proper rebatted casings with 5 inch butt hinges and a good American mortise lock with porcelain knobs and plated rosettes with a moulded impost and a glazed fanlight on the top of those of the second story and five fanlights over doors in 3d story.

The outside shutter to the rear windows of the stores shall be framed & paneled 1 ¾ inch thick, properly hung & fastened with inside bolts.

Sliding doors - A pair of sliding doors shall be placed in each of the houses where they are shown upon the plans of second story, each one to be 1 ¾ [in] thick framed in six panels with wide margins & moulded on both sides, hung upon sliding beads and rollers, with mortise locks and bolts complete, having porcelain knobs and plated rosettes, the doorways trimmed with moulded architraves, ten inches wide and a moulded cornice on the top.

Architraves - Moulded architraves with base blocks at the bottom shall be fixed to all the doors and windows inside of the front house, with proper jamb casings to the frames. The architraves of the second story 8 inches wide, to the third story 7 inches wide, architrave mouldings to be fixed to the inside of the door frames of the kitchen buildings, and to the attic stories.

Stairs - [T]he main stairs shall be made from the first story to the third story in each house agreeably to the plans, with dry cypress steps 1 ½ inches thick, risers 1 ¼ inches thick with return mouldings and cut brackets to the ends of steps, a curtail step at the bottom with a mahogany turned newell 8 inches diameter, St. Domingo mahogany handrail rounded 3 inches diameter, the handrail and balusters to have two coats of best varnish when the buildings are finished.

The kitchen stairs to be made agreeably to the plans, with dry, yellow pine, steps 1 ½ in thick, risers 1 ¼ inches thick, cypress handrail and square balusters.

The doors to the attics shall be fixed between the wall and a partition of planks 1 ½ in thick, planed & tongue[d], & placed where shown upon the plans.

In the ceilings over the kitchen stairs a trap door and scuttle shall be made to get out upon the roof, the trap door hung with hinges and fastened with a good lock; a step ladder shall be made to go from the trap door to the roof, and a ladder placed upon the slates from the scuttle to the chimney of each house.

Flagging - The sidewalks around the buildings the entrance hall from front to rear, the passages from the stairs to the yards shall, be paved with best Northern flag stones of best quality, in large pieces laid with mortar made of sharp sand and lime. Each house shall have a gutter stone laid to convey the water from the yards to the street.

Mantels and Grates - A Marble mantel grate of the value of eighty dollars when set complete, shall be furnished and place[d] in each of the two principal rooms of the second story each house.

Each fireplace of the third story shall have a wooden mantel of the same form as the marble mantels, with a grate being together equal in value to twenty five dollars for each fire place complete.

A Marble hearth stone shall be placed in front of each wooden mantel.

The fireplaces of the 2d & 3d stories of the kitchen buildings shall have plain wooden mantels, the wooden mantels to be painted in imitation of marble and varnished two coats. Four square marble tiles shall be set in front of the fireplaces 2d & 3d stories of kitchens.

The fireplaces in the lower story of the kitchens shall have their openings four feet high, the hearths built up two feet above the floor and paved with fire bricks.

Galleries - The galleries to the kitchen buildings shall have plain pilasters, hand rails and square balusters all of wood, the floors to be laid with a proper inclination with white lead in the joints.

Balconies - The balconies of the front to have cast iron ornamented railings, agreeably to the drawing thereof signed herewith and the same for the fan light over front doors & attic windows.

The balconies of the Second Story to be eight feet wide, and those of the third story three feet six inches wide, with an iron railed partition across, between the houses on each story.

Privies - Each of the privies shall have a sink built with brickwork four feet deep below the yards, and the walls built with brick and hydraulic cement four feet above the yards. Each Privy to have a seat & riser with a flap hung with 3 inch butt hinges and closed with a button on top. A space for ventilation shall be built at the back of the seats extending from the sink to the top of the building.

Plastering - All the inside of the buildings, including the attics shall be lathed where necessary, and plastered with three coats work, hard finished in the best manner.

Moulded cornices to be made around the rooms and corridors of the second story.

The walls of the inside of the stores shall be plastered with hydraulic cement mixed with an equal quantity of good sharp sand and finished smooth upon the surface.

Each of the principal rooms of the second story shall have a centre flower five feet diameter fixed upon the centre of the ceiling.

Painting - All the wood and iron work usually painted in the inside and outside of the buildings shall receive three coats of the best oil and white lead painting, or finished of any other plain colours that may be chosen by the owner of the buildings; all nail holes, cracks and other irregularities of the surface, are to be, after the first coat painting filled up with mastic, and rubbed smooth with pumice stone. The Entry doors from the street to be painted in imitation of wood or bronze, with two coats of varnish. The last coat for the second story only to be of the best English white led and turpentine.
The doors and sashes in front of the stores to be painted in imitation of oak wood, with two coats of varnish.

All the work shall be executed of the best materials of every kind, and the work performed in the best manner in every respect.

The walls round the yards to be whitened with two coats of the best lime wash.

Hardware - Each of the outside doors fronting on the streets shall be hung with three six inch butt hinges to each fold, & fastened by a large front door lock with porcelain knobs and plated rosettes. A bell pull with porcelain knob and plated ground worth five dollars each, shall be placed, or hung for the second story of each house, and a bell with two pulls, for the third story of each house. The bell cords to be furnished by the tenants. The shelves for closets, etc. to be also furnished by the tenants.

A water pipe and iron hydrant to be fixed in each of the yards, & joined to the main pipes of the water works company in the street, under the side walk to the inside surface of the front wall. The lower end of each rain water pipe shall have a cast iron ornamented box to protect it.

The tops of the chimneys above the roof shall be of good country bricks painted three coats red and penciled with white lines. The collars are top course of the chimneys shall be built with hydraulic cement and covered by a copper band round it, six inches wide.

In each party wall between the stores there shall be built a brick arch of eight feet wide & ten feet high and filled up with brickwork for the present.

All the materials for the buildings above described, specified or not specified shall be furnished by the builder so as to complete the buildings in every respect.

Verandah - Verandah shall be erected along the whole length of the fronts & in accordance with the elevation. The cornice & roof to be supported by cast iron pillars placed upon granite blocks cut to receive them; said blocks not to be higher than the level of the sidewalks. The roof of the verandah to be covered with copper of ten pounds to the sheet. The cornice to be of wood work agreeably to the elevation.

Plate glass - The windows and doors in front of the stores only shall be glazed with plate glass called, Chances Patent plate glass

Water closets - There shall be one closet in each house fitted up with plain pan, water apparatus, with all necessary pipes complete.

For the eight middle houses, if the back stairs and all the other arrangements be built as they are shown upon the plans, sheet copper shall be laid upon all the foundations instead of slate as before described; but if the back stairs are built across the end of the yards instead of where now drawn upon the plans, then in that case, slates shall be laid upon the walls of the foundations as before described.

The partitions and fireplaces in the second story of the two houses (main buildings) fronting on Levee Street and Chartres St[reet] are to be the same as the second story of the eight houses on St. Peter Street: instead of, as drawn upon the plan.

May 30th 1849
James Gallier & Co.

Memorandum of some alterations from the plan to have the eight houses on St. Peter Street the front rooms the same as the houses fronting on Chartres and Levee Streets.

[Signed]
de Pontalba née Almonester

Witnesses
James Stewart
Samuel Steuart

[T]he second story and five fanlights over doors in 3d story cornice on the top being together for fireplace complete these words interline approved.

Six lines null, as being erased - James Gallier & Co. - erased null. Ne Varietur in conformity with the building contract passed this day before me.

July 20th 1849
Louis T. Caire, Notary Public

[Signed]
de Pontalba née Almonester
Samuel Steuart"

L.T. Caire, No. 394

Building contract

Between Samuel Stewart, builder, and the Baroness Pontalba. For 16 houses fronting Place d'Armes (St. Peter, Chartres, Levee Sts.), for $156,000. Spec's dated May 30, 1849. Name "James Gallier and Co." scratched out; marked null.

L.T. Caire, Vol. 115/374

Building contract

Of Samuel Stewart, builder, for W.T. Hedd of Eugene Rochereau and Company, agents of Mrs. Michaela Almonester de Pontalba. "Stewart No. A (or 4) 194" in Second District Court.

A. Ducatel, Vol. 53/7

"Schiro Denies Plan to Sell or Trade Pontalba:

Mayor Victor H. Schiro said today he has no intention of selling or trading the city's historic Upper Pontalba Building..."

"Society Flays Pontalba Deal:
Landmarks Group Hits Hotel, Motel Idea:

Strongly-worded resolutions protesting any new efforts to sell the historic Upper Pontalba building on St. Peter [S]t. to private owners for a hotel or motel have been adopted by the board of the Louisiana Landmark Society..."

"Story of Baroness, Her Buildings Told:

Micaela Almonester was a remarkable woman. She was red-headed, strong-willed, intelligent and determined.

Probably the only time in her life that she didn't make up her own mind was when, at 16, she was married to her cousin, Joseph Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba, whom she had never seen.

As Baroness Pontalba, she completed the work of beautifying the Place d'Armes that her father, Don Andres Almonester y Roxas had begun more than half a century earlier..."

"Quarter Site Work Okayed:
Paletou Denies Commission Show[s] Favoritism:

The Vieux Carre Commission approved plans for property at 1119 Chartres drawn by a firm headed by its chairman.

....[d]eferred until the August meeting was a proposal to demolish and rebuild the front wall of the Whitney National Bank of New Orleans, 624-632 Chartres..."

[N.B. Primary address at 500-546 St. Peter.]

"VCC Office Sign Taken by Thieves:

A sign belonging to the Vieux Carre Commission disappeared from its place outside of VCC offices at 630 Chartres this weekend..."

[N.B. Primary address at 500-546 St. Peter.]

"Sign nabbed:

Sign-nabbers will have a hard time wrenching loose the Vieux Carre Commission's new $400 sign, says Fred Wohlford, executive secretary. The sign, to be installed in about two weeks, will be securely anchored..."

[N.B. Article relates to 630 Chartres, but primary address is 500-546 St. Peter.]

Letter to the Editor: "More on Pontalba:

Having been retained by the Upper Pontalba Building Commission to make recommendations for the exterior of their building we read with interest the recent letter of Frances A. Weaver of Denver.

The commission's decision to restore the first floor shops was make to bring back to the building and Jackson Square the kind of activity and occupancy originally envisioned by the Baroness Pontalba when she erected these buildings. No 'tourist' shops will be allowed. Only shops which will be patronized locally.."

[N.B. Henry M. Krotzer, Jr. was employed by the firm Koch & Wilson.]

Letter to the Editor: "Baroness vs. Bars:

Mr. Hugh Krotzer, of Koch and Wilson, architects, April 7 stated that the Upper Pontalba Building Commission has retained his firm to '[r]estore the first floor shops...to bring back to the building and Jackson Square the kind of activity and occupancy originally envisioned by the Baroness Pontalba when she erected these buildings.

In the light of what the baroness herself is reported to have said, it is to be wondered where the commission got the idea that restoring the first floor shops meant...erecting in [them] a bar..."

"Pontalba Rentals Lagging:

Businessmen aren't exactly falling over each other to open a shop in the city-owned Upper Pontalba, but a combination of factors is to blame."

[w/photo/caption]

"Work Begins on Foundation of Pontalba Balcony Supports:

Work began Friday to replace the foundations of balcony supports of the Upper Pontalba Apartments, found to be completely rotted by workmen tearing up St. Peter Street for a Jackson Square mall..."

"Jackson Square mall job worries building owners

Owners of historic buildings around Jackson Square are looking worriedly at the construction under way at the square. But so far there is no evidence the work has caused any damage to the buildings..."

[w/photo]

sec. A-2

"Lower Pontalba shaky, museum expert fears

The Louisiana State Museum Board has been warned that repairs to the foundations of the Lower Pontalba Building may be necessary when renovation work on Jackson Square moves to that area.

....[d]uring work last month on St. Peter Street in front of the city-owned Upper Pontalba Building, it was found that the foundations supporting the 26 columns holding up the building's gallery had rotted away..."

sec. A-3

"New Old Look for Pontalbas?:

There's a good chance that the Pontalba buildings, the first apartments in the U.S., will look more like they did originally than at any time since they were built in 1850..."

"Pontalbas' Painting Given Okay:

The Louisiana State Museum Board, by a vote of four to two, Wednesday accepted color changes for the Pontalba buildings, which would restore them to their circa 1850 colors..."

"Pontalba damage threat may bring suit by state:

The state attorney general's office has threatened to sue the City of New Orleans unless the city agrees to accept financial responsibility for any damage to the state-owned Lower Pontalba Buildings as a result of excavation work at Jackson Square..."

Letter to the Editor: "The 'Pontalba Problem':

Reluctantly I offer this letter in response to your article March 22 regarding the Jackson Square improvement project....The current problem arises out of a persistent effort on the part of the Louisiana State Museum to draw on the dollars of the taxpayers and citizens of the city of New Orleans to effect repairs on the Lower Pontalba Building, which this board administers for the state..."

"Battle of the Pontalba: City, state in cease-fire:

A cease-fire, and possibly a permanent armistice, has been reached in the pop-gun war between the city and the state over who should be liable for possible repairs to the foundations of the columns supporting the gallery of the Lower Pontalba Building..."