517-541 Bourbon St.

800-824 Toulouse St.

Square: 71 Lot Number: 18699-01

Property Images

Square Images

Vieux Carré Commission Evaluation:

No change -- brown. Multi-story hotel structure built in 1965 on the site of the French Opera House for use as the Downtowner Hotel.

Brown
Portion of Building Main
Material Masonry
Note assumed bldg. material; and/or "Frame special"?

Dimensions

Frontage 193′ 5″ 0‴
2 191′ 5″ 4‴
3 193′ 7″ 3‴
4 191′ 4″ 2‴

Chain of Title

Last Updated: Friday, July 30th 1982
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Thursday, February 27th 1964

Record Source COB
Volume 657
Page 592
Authority J. A. Smith Jr. ( Notary )
Record Type exchange

[This large lot was acquired in five portions known as A, B, C, D and E. See separate chains of title for individual properties forming this site.] Act of Exchange. Letter X on survey by Adloe Orr, dated January 31, 1963.

Tuesday, June 13th 1916

Record Source COB
Volume 287
Page 169
CDC# 114015
Authority F. J. Puig ( Notary )
Record Type public sale

Tulane Education Fund from Receivers of French Opera House Association, Ltd. In suit of "G. Pitard's Sons vs. French Opera House Association, Ltd." Public sale. Included all furniture, furnishings, scenery, decorations, and moveables of every kind.

Thursday, May 18th 1916

Record Source Newspaper
Volume 4
Page 5
Authority Times-Picayune ( Newspaper )
Record Type auction sale

French Opera House bought by William Ratcliffe Irby. Public auction.

Tuesday, March 26th 1889

Record Source COB
Volume 129
Page 730
Authority J. Bendernagel ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 25/137.

Saturday, May 10th 1873

Record Source COB
Volume 101
Page 759
Authority Pierre C. Cuvellier ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 31/201.

Friday, April 4th 1873

Record Source COB
Volume 105
Page 24
Court# 4386
Authority 6th District Court ( Court )
Record Type [sale?]

From Sheriff in suit of "Liquidating Commissioners of the Opera House Association vs. Henry Bezou, Liquidator, and Delta Insurance Company."

Tuesday, May 18th 1869

Record Source COB
Volume 97
Page 97
Authority Pierre C. Cuvellier ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 23/183. Part interest.

Friday, March 9th 1866

Record Source COB
Volume 91
Page 100
Authority S. Magner ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Part interest. Other transactions: A. Boudousquie, 0/123, March 8, 1866; E. G. Gottschalk, 15/156, March 10, 1866; E. G. Gottschalk, 15/19, January 11, 1866; COB 89/386, January 11, 1866.

Sunday, January 1st 1865

Record Source Original Act
Volume 13
Page 94
Authority E. G. Gottschalk ( Notary )
Authority Date Sunday, January 1st 1865
Record Type lease

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

G. Ortermann

Lease of French Opera House to G. Ortermann

Friday, September 30th 1864

Record Source COB
Volume 88
Page 278
Court# 11071
Authority 6th District Court ( Court )
Record Type [sale?]

Louisiana State Mutual Insurance Company, et al. from Sheriff in suit of "Union Insurance Company, et al. vs. New Orleans Opera House Company."

Wednesday, June 1st 1859

Record Source MOB
Volume 73
Page 477
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Record Type mortgage

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Louis F. Generes ,   New Orleans Opera House Company

Original Act: 3112/149. Mortgage to Louis F. Generes by New Orleans Opera House Association for $80,000. Lot "with the buildings now in progress of erection on the said portion of ground, intended for an Opera House and its dependencies, and all and singular the furniture, decorations, scenery, ward-robes, library and other accessories of the said Opera House complete."

Tuesday, April 19th 1859

Record Source COB
Volume 73
Page 421
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Record Type building contract

Original Act: 3112/105. Gallier and Easterbrook with the New Orleans Opera House Company "to erect or cause to be erected and completely finished a New Opera House--at the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse streets, in accordance with the plans and elevations made by the said Gallier and Easterbrook... and also in conformity with the following specifications: Old Materials -- The old frame buildings which now occupy the ground having been sold and cleared off, (with the exception of the old bricks forming the chimney shafts and dwarf walls) and the brick kitchen, and the brick dwelling on Toulouse Street having been torn down, the old bricks shall be cleaned and stacked up in the street to be used again in the new building... " Total Cost, including 10% commssion to the architect-builders was not to exceed $118,500.

Thursday, March 24th 1859

Record Source COB
Volume 77
Page 596
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot "A" Bourbon Street corner of Toulouse Street. Original Act: 3112/75.

Thursday, March 24th 1859

Record Source Original Act
Volume 3112
Page 74
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Authority Date Thursday, March 24th 1859
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "C" French Opera House site.

Wednesday, March 23rd 1859

Record Source Original Act
Volume 3112
Page 71
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, March 23rd 1859
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "E" French Opera House site.

Wednesday, March 23rd 1859

Record Source Original Act
Volume 3112
Page 72
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, March 23rd 1859
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "D" French Opera House site.

Wednesday, March 23rd 1859

Record Source Original Act
Volume 3112
Page 73
Authority A. Boudousquie ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, March 23rd 1859
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "B" French Opera House site.

Sunday, November 9th 1856

Record Source Court
Court# 11043
Authority 2nd District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Lot "A" Bourbon Street corner of Toulouse Street. Inherited from his sister. Undivided half interest.

Thursday, June 5th 1856

Record Source Court
Authority Probate Court ( Court )
Record Type will

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Francoise Grima

Lot "A" Bourbon Street corner of Toulouse Street.

Monday, April 7th 1856

Record Source Original Act
Volume 35
Page 247
Authority T. Guyol ( Notary )
Authority Date Monday, April 7th 1856
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "B" French Opera House site.

Saturday, October 6th 1855

Record Source Original Act
Volume 40
Page 556
Authority A. Chiapella ( Notary )
Authority Date Saturday, October 6th 1855
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "D" French Opera House site.

Monday, July 12th 1852

Record Source Unknown
Authority T. Guyol ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Lot "A" Bourbon Street corner of Toulouse Street. Undivided half interest.

Wednesday, February 5th 1851

Record Source Original Act
Volume 19
Page 451
Authority T. Guyol ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, February 5th 1851
Record Type [sale?]

Lot "A" Bourbon Street corner of Toulouse Street. From Heirs of his mother, Mme. Anne Marie Filiosa, widow of Francis Xavier Albert Grima.

Tuesday, December 3rd 1850

Record Source Court
Court# 3855
Authority 2nd District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Agent / Single Party Act / Other:

Anne Marie Filiosa Grima

Lot "A" Bourbon Street corner of Toulouse Street. Born in New Orleans January 23, 1754. Died in New Orleans October 15, 1850 at residence of Felix Grima, St. Louis Street (820).

Saturday, September 29th 1849

Record Source Original Act
Volume 18
Page 442
Authority A. Chiapella ( Notary )
Authority Date Saturday, September 29th 1849
Record Type [sale?]

Bourbon Street Lot "D" French Opera House site.

Citations

"Le Downtowner du Vieux Carre."

— Brochure

Postcard of The Downtowner Hotel.
[conceptual drawing]

— Postcard

The Downtowner Motor Inn.
[actual photograph]

— Postcard

"For sale--the house No. 30 Bourbon Street south, on a ground of 60' front and 120' in depth; it is divided into six apartments (rooms), with a piazza, at the end of which are two small bedrooms. There is under said house a good cellar, divided into two parts, in the yard two kitchens, etc. The front part of the house is now occupied by a shoemaker.

If said house is not privately sold by the 14th of December, next, it will on that day be sold at the Exchange, by Messrs. Patton and Mossy. Apply to Jean B. Meilleur."

Vol. 1, p.3, c.4

— Louisiana Courier
Date: Friday, November 20th 1807

Don Michel Zeringue died at the age of 48.

— St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Date: Saturday, November 16th 1816

Building contract

Between Gallier & Easterbook and the New Orleans Opera House Company.

A. Boudousquié

— Notarial Act (New Orleans Notarial Archives)
Author: Adolphe Boudousquié, N.P. Date: Tuesday, April 19th 1859

"Invited Mr. Roy to go with me to the New Opera House, now hastening to completion--went over it and were sorry to remark the usual effect of hasty building--evidence of unequal subsidence--bad brickwork--immense mortar joints--cracks everywhere--and the construction, though bad, was no worse than the design and details of exterior, which are simply abominable."

— Diary of T. K. Wharton, p. 207
Author: T. K. Wharton Date: Saturday, September 24th 1859

"Visited new Opera House with Messrs. Roy and Thiel--interior ornamentation chaste, simple, and tasteful; far better than the construction, which has been too hasty. The work is now nearly complete."

— Diary of T. K. Wharton, p. 225
Author: T. K. Wharton Date: Saturday, November 19th 1859

" ...[t]he French Opera in preparation for the opening of the 1869-70 season... Upon the outside the building, with its fresh coat of whitewash, glimmers like a monster ghost in the moonlight... "

— Daily Picayune
Date: Sunday, October 24th 1869

"A grand staircase is being built at the French Opera House for the use of the box holders of the Bal de L'Opera, which takes place Wednesday February 11. Maskers can go direct to their boxes and witness the carnival without going on the ball floor if they so desire... "

— Daily States
Date: Saturday, January 24th 1885

"Favrot and Livaudais... The firm is also in charge of the remodeling of the French Opera House, where the interior is being made over and additional exists added at a cost of about $12,000... "

4th sect/p.12

— Daily Picayune
Date: Sunday, September 1st 1901

French Opera House destroyed by fire.

— Newspaper article
Date: Thursday, December 4th 1919

Ground Broken For $3 Million Quarter Motel

— States-Item
Date: Saturday, August 1st 1964

French Quarter Moter-Hotel Is Started
Winthrop Rockefeller Here for Building Event

— Times-Picayune
Author: Frank L. Schneider Date: Saturday, August 1st 1964

"THE DOWNTOWNER, at Bourbon and Toulouse, the site of the old opera house, is being developed by Baldwin Equities Corp., headed by Robert R. Baumgarten of Houston. The operation will be a joint venture of Winthrop Rockefeller and The Downtowner Corp., headed by Luther F. Matthews of Memphis, Tenn."

— Times-Picayune
Date: Sunday, October 18th 1964

Quarter Unit Ok's Projects

— Times-Picayune
Date: Wednesday, December 16th 1964

Ad for "The Beef'n Bourbon" restaurant at the Downtowner Motor Inn.

— Vieux Carre Courier
Date: Friday, May 16th 1969

Half Interest in Inn Bought

— Times-Picayune
Date: Thursday, May 22nd 1969

" ...dinner à deux, or entertaining for several friends, you'll be proud of the unparalleled service and excellent food proffered your guests when you choose The Beef 'N Bourbon, main dining room at the Downtowner Motor Inn, Bourbon at Toulouse, in the heart of the Vieux Carré... Table d'hôte dinners from $4.50. Buffet Luncheons 11 A.M.- 3 P.M. $1.95. 2-hour Free Hotel Parking for Luncheon and Dinner Guests. The entertainment is continuous, unpredictable, unforgettable. The Downtowner Motor Inn, at the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse, in the heart of the Vieux Carre."

— Dixie (Times-Picayune)
Date: Sunday, August 3rd 1969

French Opera House history.

— Transit Riders' Digest (NOPL)
Author: New Orleans Public Service, Inc. Date: Monday, December 1st 1969

N.Y. Firm Buys Downtowner

— Times-Picayune
Date: Tuesday, August 22nd 1972

Quarter Hotel purchased for $8.7 million
Renovation begins at Quality Inn

— Times-Picayune/States-Item
Author: Lettice Stuart Date: Saturday, October 15th 1983

Pictures from the Past: French Opera House

— Dixie (Times-Picayune)
Date: Sunday, December 18th 1983

French Opera House: a palace for Carnival royalty

— Times-Picayune
Author: Lily Jackson Date: Sunday, February 5th 1984