600-616 St. Peter St.

This entire plot was acquired by Nicholas Garbini in a series of purchases involving four plots of ground which, for the sake of convenience, have been called here Lots A, B, C and D. The major acquisition, which shall be considered first, came out of the Pontalba-Miro connection. This concerns three lots. The corner Lot B, belonged to Mme. Miro and was flanked by Lots A and C belonging to her nephew, Joseph Xavier de Pontalba. The latter properties fronted on St. Peter and Chartres respectively.

In 1833, when Pontalba and his aunt were in France, they sold off their portion to Jean Baptiste Prudhomme and Jean Roques. Roques and Purdhomme, who were kinsmen, each held an undivided half. Throughout the nineteenth century this entire tract was considered as an undivided unit, though its ownership was severely splintered by inheritance. In the eighteenth century, however, this property was cut up into several differently shaped lots of complex origin, so for clarity's sake Lots A, B and C will be handled as separate entities when needed. Lot D, which came out of the Dowlin estate, is also being covered as a unit of its own.

Petition by owner to Cabildo requesting permission to build a balcony extending over the sidewalk.

"Don Joseph de Orue y Garbea, head accountant of the Royal Finance and Army, states that in order to give more beauty and comfort to a house he intends to build on his own lot located on one of the corners facing this public plaza, he intends to build it with a porch on the edge of the sidewalk, and far be it from obstructing the traffic of pedestrians, said porch will afford protection in time of rain and strong sun, for which advantage said porches are permitted throughout the realms of the Kingdom."

[N.B. Citation only refers to Lot "B".]

Notarial act between Nicolas Daunoy and Pedro Marigny. Relating to the Bishop's house at the corner of the Plaza, 608 St. Peter corner Chartres.

P. Pedesclaux, Vol. 36/76

Power of attorney

Joseph Xavier Delfau Pontalba gives power of attorney to Jean Nicolas Daunoy to donate to Jean Baptiste Charpin, friend of said Pontalba, for life: "une maison qui appartient au dit Sr. Pontalba comme l'ayant achetée de M. Fouque louée[?] à M. Mazange à raison de quarante piastres fortes par maison, la dite maison située à la Nouvelle Orléans rue de Chartres, attenant d'une côté à une autre maison qui appartient au dit Sr. Pontalba, comprend dans la dite donation d'usufruct une petite cour prise dans le terrain acheté du dit Sr. Fouque et un passage de cinq pieds pour communiquer à la rue de la Comédie, lequel sera aussi pris[?] sur le même terrain faite la dite donation par les motifs d'amitié que porte le dit Sr. Pontalba au dit Sr. Charpin."

P. Pedesclaux

Building permits - N. Garbini, on [643] Chartres St. near St. Peter, $500. Owner, builder.

"Garbini, Nicholas, saloon, 163 Chartres."

Messrs. D'Artiguieres and De Benat report a second request of theirs for a site on behalf of Count D'Artagnan. On February 11 Council allows them site No. 66 and refers them for boundary details to Mr. de Chaville, Royal Engineer. Lot must be cleared and stakes and stumps cut away to half width of street within two months. Signatures of Bienville, Brusle, Fazende, Perry, Fleurian and Estienne (recorder).

M. le Comte dArtagnan figures in the early census tables as the owner of a large concession six leagues above the city of New Orleans, at "cannes brulées." D'Arteguires and Benat were his managers.

February 8, 1724

"St. Charles Theatre.

Mr. Barton,
Second Night of Engagement
Mr. Norton's
Second Appearance
Fifth Appearance of
Mrs. Maeder (Late Clara Fischer)

This Evening
Friday, Dec. 4, 1835

Tobin's celebrated Comedy of the
Honey Moon."

"The Honeymoon of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre:

[w/images]

Once again the beloved Petit Theatre opens its doors to thronging crowds, but what a resplendent and gay new theatre it is."

"An entrance to the Little Theater, in the Old French Quarter"

[w/photo]

"Pontalba kept an interesting record of the completion of the house in his letters....[h]e immediately became involved in a quarrel with Almonester and Boutte over the construction of the balcony, ending finally in a lawsuit. Pontalba claimed that Almonester 'ordered the blacksmith to pull down the balcony he had begun and to erect a simple one instead, one with straight bars, saying that as long as he erected a balcony, he was the master of having one built to suit himself, not taking into consideration that I (Pontalba) had bought the balcony when it was half finished, and that he was to complete it along the lines already started. I put in an appearance and the blacksmith was given orders to suspend the work.'"

[N.B. Citation only refers to Lot "B".]

"Before the house was quite completed it was struck by the Good Friday [sic] fire of 1794 and heavily damaged. Don Joseph then entered into a contract on March 10, 1795, with Don Hilario Boutte to rebuild it at a total cost of 4000 pesos. Many of the walls and chimneys had to be rebuilt, the ceilings re-plastered and the floors replaced, the chimney in the principal sala had to be furred 'in wood with good carvings in order that I may paint it like marble'.

Like many of the houses erected during the Spanish period, especially after the fires of 1788 and 1794, this rebuilt house was to have a flat roof to 'be made with the greatest perfection and mortared likewise in order that there shall be no leaks,' the deck covered with flat French tiles brought from Pensacola to form a terrace.

Around the top of the walls a new brick balustrade was to be built with finials along the top and an iron rod at intervals 'to tie ropes or cords if it should be desired to hang out clothes'. The iron balcony was to be furnished by the owner and erected by the contractor; other documents indicate that this handsome example of Spanish wrought iron craftsmanship was the work of a local blacksmith, Marcellino Hernandez.

Before the work was completed Don Joseph decided to give up the project and sold the building to Don Almonester y Roxas November 13, 1795. A few days later... Don Almonester sold it to his friend, Joseph Xavier Pontalba, who had Hilario Boutte complete the building according to the terms of the original contract."

[N.B. Citation only refers to Lot "B".]

"Why Preserve the Vieux Carre?:

A Public Forum sponsored by New Orleans Chapter, The American Institute of Architects"

"Renovation of Le Petit Theatre Due in Summer:

[w/photo]

The long-awaited renovation of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre will begin some time this summer, theater officials announced today."

"Le Petit Names Fontelieu; Gallery to Become Inactive:
[w/photos]

Stocker Fontelieu today was named associate director of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre."

"Little Theater Renovation Set:
Quarter Structure Will Look as It did in 1789:

[w/drawing]

A $250,000 renovation program for Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre was launched Monday night with the signing of contracts for restoration of the historic French Quarter structure."

"Le Petit Theatre is Being Demolished:

Anybody needing French Quarter shutters, old French style doors, cypress beams and flooring, two and three-inch sump pumps can find all these things for sale at Le Petit Theatre de Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter."

"Quarter Wall Stirs Up Big Ruckus:

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....The [Vieux Carre Commission] director Fred Wohlford, was entering his office his morning when he looked across the street and saw workmen demolishing a party wall between a building at 629 Chartres and the property of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre."

"'Raising the Roof Tree' ceremonies were held Friday atop the new corner building of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, St. Peter and Chartres... The Old World custom is practiced when a building under construction reaches its highest peak."

"Theater Called 'Ace of Clubs':
Director Tells Its Functions:

[w/photo]

A cultural and entertainment landmark for almost a half-century, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre is laying groundwork now for its 45th season of continuous operation."

"Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre as it looks today and as it looked in 1789 when it was originally built by Don Josef de Orue y Garbvea, head accountant of the Royal Finance and Army."

[w/photo]

"Rebuilds the Past, Builds the Future:

[w/photos]

Two years ago John Foley thought of a little theatre as simply 'a playhouse' with a small stage.'

Today he knows better. And many of his other spurious notions about live theater have been corrected with knowledge gained from membership in the Teen Club of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre."

"The Orleans Parish Landmarks Commission and
The Board of Governors [for]
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
Request the Honor of your Presence at
The Dedication of a Plaque Marking the
Orue-Pontabla House at
The Corner of Chartres and St. Peter Streets,
Now Part of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

Sunday, October 13, 1963
1:30 p.m."

"New Orleans Little Theater, oldest in the U.S., approaches a half-century of production with renovated and expanded quarters. Photo at left shows how theater building at Chartres and St. Peter looked in 1885 and at right how it appears after restoration which captures concept of the original structures dating back to 1794."

[w/photo]

"Theater Wing:

A 'little theater within the Little Theater' is the way Stocker Fontelieu describes a new stage facility at his place.

Fontelieu is based, as executive director, at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre."