Square: 42 Lot Number: 18480
No change: blue; rear courtyard building (uptown side) -- brown. This c. 1830 3-story stuccoed brick dwelling with a central carriageway entrance also is a prototypical Creole style townhouse. Although some of the ground floor arched openings have been shortened and one of the two rear outbuildings (probably the stable) has been removed, the building retains many of its original characteristics.
|
Brown
|
|
|---|---|
| Portion of Building | Service building (uptown-side) |
| Material | Wood |
|
Blue
|
|
|---|---|
| Portion of Building | Main |
| Material | Masonry |
| Frontage | 47′ 11″ 4‴ |
|---|---|
| 2 | 74′ 7″ 3‴ |
| 3 | 47′ 11″ 4‴ |
| 4 | 74′ 7″ 3‴ |
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 675 |
| Page | 183 |
| Authority | Claude J. Champagne ( Notary ) |
| Record Type | sale |
| Price | $140000.00 |
Lot measures 47' 11" 4''' front on Royal St. (48' 6" actual) with a width in rear of 48' 6" and a depth of 76' 8" 6''' (actual). Survey by Errol E. Kelly, July 16, 1966.
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 675 |
| Page | 145 |
| CDC# | 439-911 |
| Authority | Civil District Court ( Court ) |
| Record Type | succession |
One half interest each of decedent's 1/9 interest, (an undivided 1/18 interest to each).
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 625 |
| Page | 100 |
| CDC# | 361635 |
| Authority | Civil District Court ( Court ) |
| Record Type | succession |
Part interest.
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 589 |
| Page | 365 |
| Authority | J. J. Cousin ( Notary ) |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Half interest.
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 459 |
| Page | 659 |
| CDC# | 191049 |
| Authority | Civil District Court ( Court ) |
| Record Type | succession |
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 195 |
| Page | 160 |
| CDC# | 72539 |
| Authority | Civil District Court ( Court ) |
| Record Type | succession |
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 110 |
| Page | 869 |
| Authority | Nicholas B. Trist ( Notary ) |
| Record Type | succession |
3rd District Court No. 25578. Bounded on one side by the property formerly of Germain Ducatel and on the other by that of Labatut.
| Record Source | COB |
|---|---|
| Volume | 26 |
| Page | 327 |
| Authority | Felix Grima ( Notary ) |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Lot with an upper-story brick house and other buildings.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 14 |
| Page | 241 |
| Authority | L. Feraud ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Friday, July 31st 1835 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
A lot with improvements thereon consisting of a dwelling house with two stores, two dining rooms, four large rooms, two small bedrooms, a kitchen with four servant's rooms, a stable and a large entry calculated to receive a four-wheeled carriage and a gig.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 7 |
| Page | 599 |
| Authority | Felix de Armas Sr. ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Saturday, November 4th 1826 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Lot with brick building and outbuildings thereon.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 6 |
| Page | 464 |
| Authority | Felix de Armas Sr. ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Monday, June 12th 1826 |
| Record Type | succession |
Inherited. Lot with brick house and other buildings fond thereon. Lot measuring 45' front and 70' in depth on Royal Street between Toulouse and St. Peter streets, bounded on one side by the heirs of Mayronne, and on the other side formerly by the heirs of Ducros, today by Germaine Ducatel. "The said house was actually rented to the French Consul for 100 piastres a month."
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 581 |
| Page | 85 |
| Authority | J. Lynd ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Monday, November 18th 1811 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Lot in Royal Street having 45' front and 70' of depth, with house and outbuilding.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 63 |
| Page | 448 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Tuesday, October 22nd 1811 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Joseph Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba acquired by marriage contract with Miss Michaela Leonarda Almonester from her mother, Mrs. Louise de La Ronde, widow first of Andre Almonester y Roxas, second of Jean Baptiste Castillon. "Eighteen thousand piastres represented by a house and lot of ground on Royal Street, bounded by Messrs. Mayronne and Ducros..."
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 3522 |
| Page | 122 |
| Authority | Narcisse Broutin ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Wednesday, August 1st 1810 |
| Record Type | exchange |
By Act of Exchange from Dr. Louis Fortin. "...a house situated in this city on Royal Street being occupied at present by the said Mr. Fortin, having 45' front by 70' in depth, adjoining on one side the property of Mr. Mayronne and on the other side the property of Mr. Rudolph Joseph Ducros with which neighbors the walls are party walls. "Agreed that... Mr. Fortin shall enjoy during one year starting this date, the entire house which he cedes, the upstairs portion as well as the downstairs portion... that at the expiration of the said year the Widow Castillon shall have the enjoyment of the two warehouses and the apartments occupied today by the two tenants of the entresol and nothing more, for by her to dispose as she sees fit; it being understood that all the lodgings upstairs as well as the entresol, downstairs, and in the yard, which are now occupied by Mr. Fortin, shall remain his to enjoy during six months after the Widow Castillon shall have taken possession of the warehouses and the apartments occupied by the tenants..."
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 52 |
| Page | 47 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Thursday, January 23rd 1806 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
"A lot of ground, house, edifices... situated in this city in Royal Street, having 45' front and 72' in depth; bounded on one side by Mr. Ducros, and on the other side and to the north by the property of Mr. Mayronne and in the rear by the property of Jayme Jorda."
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 44 |
| Page | 299 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Tuesday, April 5th 1803 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Boundaries and proportions as above, including the use of the party wall in common with the property of Jayme Jorda.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 3 |
| Page | 175 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Tuesday, March 20th 1798 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Lot 45' front by 72' depth on Royal, bounded by Rodolfo Josef Ducros and by Francisco Mayronne, and by Jayme Jorda in the rear. From their brother.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 21 |
| Page | 652 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Saturday, July 5th 1794 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
As described above, with house on the lot.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 20 |
| Page | 482 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Saturday, May 17th 1794 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
"A house and lot belonging to me, measuring 45' front and 72' deep, situated on Royal Street... bounded... by Don Rudolph Joseph Ducros and Mayronne... the house having been constructed at my expense."
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 13 |
| Page | 454 |
| Authority | Pierre Pedesclaux ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Monday, July 11th 1791 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
"A lot of ground belonging to me... 45' front and 72' deep." Bounded by Don Rudolph Joseph Ducros and Don Francisco Mayronne. No building mentioned in this act.
| Record Source | Original Act |
|---|---|
| Volume | 4 |
| Page | 257 |
| Authority | F. Rodriguez ( Notary ) |
| Authority Date | Saturday, March 12th 1785 |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Lot with buildings. Boundaries and dimensions as described above.
| Record Source | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Authority | Henry . ( Notary ) |
| Record Type | [sale?] |
Henry, Royal Notary of the Province. Lot measuring 45' front on Royal Street by 72' of depth. Note: Reference for the statement can be found in the preceding transaction -- F. Rodriguez, 4/257 [12 March 1785].
| Record Source | Map |
|---|---|
| Authority | Gonichon Map ( Map ) |
| Record Type | [land grant and/or sale and/or succession] |
The map lists "Sanfasson" at lot No. 72.
| Record Source | Map |
|---|---|
| Authority | Broutin Map ( Map ) |
| Record Type | [land grant and/or sale and/or succession] |
The map lists "Ozzane" at lot No. 81.
| Record Source | Map |
|---|---|
| Authority | de la Tour Map ( Map ) |
| Record Type | [land grant and/or sale and/or succession] |
Lists Mathurin Charnau, carpenter at Lot No. 71. Marginal note: X Registered.
Succession of Catalina Laurandine, wife of Henrique Roche, 11 Sept[ember] 1782.
— Louisiana Historical Quarterly, Vol. 19/2, p. 522-526
610-614 Royal Street
Erected: c. 1830
Architect: unknown
Builder: unknown
This spacious dwelling occupies a site that was in use long before the present buildings was erected. Almost all records from 1751 on say "with buildings." In 1794, following the second great fire, the property was held by Antonio Mendez who mentions that "the house was constructed at my expense." It would seem from the records that this house continued in use for many years. In 1806 a Dr. Luis Fortin purchased the property, and in 1810 he exchanged this with M[adame] Louise de La Ronde Almonester Castillon, widow of Don Andres Almonester and of the French Consul Jean Baptiste Castillon. In this transaction there is a discussion of rights and privileges, and it is possible to determine that this was a two story house with an entresol, sharing party walls with the adjacent house of Rudolph Joseph Ducros.
In 1811 this property became part of the dowry of Mlle. Michaela Leonarda Almonester when she married Joseph Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba. The same year the young bridegroom sold the property to Dr. Raimond Devezes, who held it until his death in 1826. The Devezes' heir passed it on to John R. Grymes -- eminent attorney who numbered the pirate Lafitte brothers among his clients, and who married Governor Claiborne's widow, the charming Suzette Bosque. The Bosque family home was just around the corner on Chartres Street in this same square.
It is difficult to say when this building was erected, whether the building was done by Dr. Devezes or by Attorney Grymes. During Dr. Devezes ownership the house served as the French consulate, so it must have been a suitably impressive background. This was a period of great enthusiasm for everything French, when Creole fortunes were rising rapidly, and interchange between New Orleans and France was almost constant. However, the style of this building is almost identical with that of the Labatut's next door, and it is a matter of record that these buildings were erected in 1831.
In 1839 the establishment was purchased by Francois Melicourt Bienvenu, and it has remained in that family, passing by way of the daughter who married a Crawford, ever since. This long record of single-family ownership explains the splendid condition of this house today.
Three stories high, built of brick covered with plaster, the façade has fine details that seem little altered. The first floor openings are arched. Two of these, which have been shortened and made into shop windows, undoubtedly once extended to the ground.
In the center, is a great arched porte-cochere with handsome paneled double doors leading into the carriage entrance. At the second and third floor level are square-headed, double hung windows that reach to the floor. A fine wrought iron gallery, supported by gracefully curved brackets, extends across the second story level. It is difficult to say whether there was ever a gallery at the third floor level. Today, between the windows and the shutters, there is a wooden guard rail supported by wooden spindles.
The Sanborn Map of 1876 indicates two service wings extending from the house with galleries connected by a catwalk across the rear. The description of this property in 1835 says the rear was composed of "...a kitchen with four servants rooms, a stable, and a large entry calculated to receive a four wheeled carriage and a gig." Today one of these wings, probably the stable, has disappeared.
"Hot?
Tired?
Thirsty?
While in the
Vieux Carre
Enjoy a Treat at
The Firehouse
Ice Cream Parlor
610 Royal"
"This property at 610-14 Royal St. has been sold by Sophia and Jules L. Cahn and others to Royal LMN for $825,000."
[w/photo]