610-614 Royal St.

Square: 42 Lot Number: 18480

Street Images

Square Images

Vieux Carré Commission Evaluation:

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

Dimensions

Frontage 47′ 11″ 4‴
2 74′ 7″ 3‴
3 47′ 11″ 4‴
4 74′ 7″ 3‴

Chain of Title

Last Updated: Monday, November 2nd 1981
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Wednesday, September 21st 1966

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.

Thursday, September 8th 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).

Thursday, August 7th 1958

Record Source COB
Volume 625
Page 100
CDC# 361635
Authority Civil District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Part interest.

Tuesday, June 16th 1953

Record Source COB
Volume 589
Page 365
Authority J. J. Cousin ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Half interest.

Thursday, March 26th 1931

Record Source COB
Volume 459
Page 659
CDC# 191049
Authority Civil District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Wednesday, January 20th 1904

Record Source COB
Volume 195
Page 160
CDC# 72539
Authority Civil District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Thursday, June 19th 1879

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.

Monday, April 29th 1839

Record Source COB
Volume 26
Page 327
Authority Felix Grima ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot with an upper-story brick house and other buildings.

Friday, July 31st 1835

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.

Saturday, November 4th 1826

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.

Monday, June 12th 1826

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."

Monday, November 18th 1811

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.

Tuesday, October 22nd 1811

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..."

Wednesday, August 1st 1810

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..."

Thursday, January 23rd 1806

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."

Tuesday, April 5th 1803

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.

Tuesday, March 20th 1798

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.

Saturday, July 5th 1794

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.

Saturday, May 17th 1794

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."

Monday, July 11th 1791

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.

Saturday, March 12th 1785

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.

Tuesday, October 5th 1751

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].

Monday, January 1st 1731

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.

Thursday, January 1st 1728

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.

Thursday, January 1st 1722

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.

Citations

Succession of Catalina Laurandine, wife of Henrique Roche, 11 Sept[ember] 1782.

— Louisiana Historical Quarterly, Vol. 19/2, p. 522-526
Date: Wednesday, April 1st 1936

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.

— VCS Binder
Author: Edith E. Long Date: Tuesday, September 22nd 1964

"Hot?
Tired?
Thirsty?
While in the
Vieux Carre
Enjoy a Treat at
The Firehouse
Ice Cream Parlor
610 Royal"

— Flyer
Date: Monday, May 1st 1967

"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]

— Times-Picayune, p. 19
Date: Saturday, September 22nd 1990