632 St. Peter St.

632 St. Peter Street

Erected: 1842
Archtiect: Jacques-Nicolas Bussière de Pouilly
Builder: Ernest Goudchaux

This lot was originally part of the 60' by 120' F.M. grant made by the Company of the Indies to Francois Gallard, known as "Sieur Chamilly." Its history, for a long time, parallels that of the Skyscraper building on the corner. It was acquired from Sieur Chamilly by Nicolas Vebent, and from his the land went to Mme. Rosa Giraldon Lemelle. Then it was bought up by Durand Brothers and Company who, in turn, sold it, through their agent, Miguel Fortier, to Jacob Cowperthwaite, a builder from New Jersey who worked extensively here. On Cowperthwaite's death it was sold to Pierre Pedesclaux, the well-known notary and attorney.

Buildings had existed on this important lot during the 18th century. The 1722 de la Tour map shows a structure on the corner, and it is a matter of record that M. Vebent did some building when he owned the original plot. However, it remained for Pedesclaux to make the big developments here.

In 1805 Pedesclaux sold to his father-in-law, Santiago Phelipe Le Duc, a "house situated on St. Peter Street, brick, two stories, built on a lot 24' 6" front by 60' depth." And the record continues, "...Pedesclaux had this house built at his own expense together with a brick kitchen." In 1807 Le Duc, who was a surgeon, sold the property to another son-in-law, Pablo Darcantel. We notice that both transactions seem to take place the same day, but Le Duc mentions that he had purchased from Pedesclaux two years before. Evidently the prominent notary had been lax about getting his own transactions recorded.

In 1814 the property was purchased by Mme. Augustine Eugenie de Lassize Avart, widow of Robert Avart, who evidently contented herself with Pedesclaux's building until 1842. At that time she entered into a contract with de Pouilly and Goudchaux to build the present structure standing on this lot. The building contract is readily available, and there is a drawing by de Pouilly showing the front elevation and floor plans.

On Mme. Avart's death in 1855 it went to a kinswoman, Mme. Antoinette Azema Avart Duplantier. After passing out of the family in 1875, this little town house was bought in 1906 by Achille Peretti, a prominent local artist who conducted an art school in this building for nearly twenty years. Since 1924 it has been in the possession of Richard Orme. These are long periods of ownership, and the building seems not to have been used too badly.

However, some changes have been made which diminish its stature. A commonplace third floor with modern windows has been added that detracts from the original design. Old photographs and the de Pouilly drawing show that there was originally a narrow wrought iron gallery. As planned, the two windows on the second story were to be arched, and the central one was to be outlined only. But the specifications also say this outlined window was to be similar to the other openings, while in the sketch it is square-headed. So it is a question whether those second story windows were ever arched. At any rate, an old photograph shows the central window had been opened at one time, and all three of them were square headed then. Today this central window has been bricked in.

On the first floor one opening has been converted into a show case with a heavy frame above it. The cornice at the second story roof line has been obscured by the cast iron canopy overhead. What must have been a most agreeable little house in its day now seems top heavy from the addition of another story poorly integrated into the design. Buildings in the rear are intact, though a shed has been added to a corner of the courtyard.

"Where Achille Peretti painted street scene:

[w/drawings]

Recent interest in the artist, Achille Perretti, temps 'Along the Banquette' to add a modest stone to the cairn of information being accumulated some 40 years after his death....[t]his could be done without traveling far from the source of his New Orleans efforts. For the building at 632 St. Peter was actually his family home and studio for some 18 years."

"Gallery to Move:

The Reilly Gallery, which has been operating manly 'by appointment only' at 1224 Peniston, has made arrangements to move downtown and, in mid-November, will open with regular gallery hours at 632 St. Peter."

"Reilly Gallery to Open at New Location:
First Show is Set for Nov. 27:

A New Orleans art center, devoted to the fine art of the European and American past, will become a reality on Nov. 27 when the Reilly Gallery opens its doors at 632 St. Peter."

"Reilly Visits Gallery Named After Him:
Britisher Buys for Art Spot:

[w/photo]

Mr. Reilly has finally come to town....[b]ut who is this Reilly and what is his role in the [Reilly Gallery] firm?"

"Gallery for Sale:

The Reilly Gallery, which specializes in fine art from the European and British past, is currently on the market."

"Actor's life entwined with Williams':

Ray Stricklyn has performed his one-man show about Tennessee Williams to acclaim in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but presenting it in New Orleans is making him just a little bit nervous."

"A new festival is making its debut:

[w/photo]

The Crescent City's literary traditions will be explored and celebrated this weekend during the first Tennessee Williams-New Orleans Literary Festival."

"An 'authorized' portrait of Williams:

[w/photo]

....[Lyle] Leverich was chosen by the playwright [Tennessee Williams] to write what he called 'the biography authorized and commissioned by Tennessee Williams."

"Tennessee: Quarter remembers writer it enchanted:

[w/photo]

They first met in 1938. The old city, flamboyant hedonist; the young man, repressed sensualist....[t]his weekend, admirers of the playwright are celebrating the special relationshpi with the first annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival."

"Photographer Johnny Donnels stands in the oval room of the building at Royal and St. Peter streets where Sherwood Anderson and William Faulkner wrote in the 1920's."

[w/photos]

"Writers Habits:
When some folks find an author's home, the writing's on the wall:

The Royal Street building abuts the building at 632 ½ St. Peter St. where Tennessee Williams wrote 'A Streetcar Named Desire' in 1946 and '47, said Kenneth Holditch, an English professor at the United of New Orleans, who has conducted literary walking tours of the Quarter for 22 years."