937-941 Bourbon St.

800-804 St. Philip St.

Square: 76 Lot Number: 18806

Property Images

Square Images

Vieux Carré Commission Evaluation:

No change: main -- blue; 1 -story rear building -- orange. This brick-between-posts (unfortunately exposed) French Colonial cottage most likely dates from the 1770s. Its steep hipped roof is reminiscent of French provincial thatched roof cottages and is part of a design that probably came to New Orleans via French Canada.

Orange
Portion of Building Service building
Material Masonry
Blue
Portion of Building Main
Material Masonry

Dimensions

Frontage 59′ 8″ 1‴
2 48′ 0″ 0‴
3 59′ 8″ 1‴
4 48′ 0″ 0‴

Chain of Title

Last Updated: Monday, September 20th 1982
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Monday, June 23rd 1958

Record Source COB
Volume 621
Page 688
Authority R. Schonekas ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Note: Many legal transactions transpired in the ownership of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, Inc., and may be referred to, as follows: Other transactions: COB 619/682; 618/483; 613/186; 611/422; 603/153; 601/327; 599/285; 586/687.

Friday, March 6th 1953

Record Source COB
Volume 591
Page 68
Authority S. Hebert ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

From the suit of Elma Barbe Renoir, et al. vs. John August Barbe, Sr., et al. Other transactions: COB 584/574; 585/46; 583/88; CDC 316899; COB 538/41; 515/16; 478/17.

Thursday, March 13th 1913

Record Source COB
Volume 262
Page 51
Authority J. H. Forcelle Jr. ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

"Lot of ground with buildings and improvements thereon, bounded by Bourbon, St. Philip, Dauphine and Dumaine streets, designated by the letter "A" on a sketch of survey by H. C. Brown, D.C.S., March 13 and annexed to this act of sale, measuring 48' front on St. Philip Street by 59' 8" 1''' in depth, b.p.l. and front on Bourbon Street. This lot being a piece of the original lot of ground bought by Clement Dabezies from Mrs. Clara Costa, widow of Anthony Cardona, et al... "

Tuesday, July 2nd 1901

Record Source COB
Volume 179
Page 516
Authority Charles T. Soniat ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 55/102. "A lot with all buildings, measuring 59' 8" 1''' front on Bourbon Street by 95' 11" in depth b.p.l. and front on St. Philip Street." Present day Lots Nos. 18806 or 937-941 Bourbon Street; 18807 or 806-810 St. Philip Street.

Monday, July 1st 1901

Record Source Original Act
Volume 55
Page 86
Authority Charles T. Soniat ( Notary )
Authority Date Monday, July 1st 1901
Record Type [mortgage?]

"The improvements comprise a one-story and attic slated building, forming the corner of St. Philip and Bourbon streets, containing four rooms on the lower floor and two rooms and one cabinet in the attic; cistern, closet, etc.. Also a frame building adjoining the above on Bourbon Street used as a tinsmith shop. Also, three, two-story brick buildings known as 806-808-810 St. Philip Street: 806 contains one room above and one room below with one-story kitchen of one room, cistern, closet, hydrant, etc.. 808 contains one room above, one room below and also two-story kitchen of two rooms, twin cisterns, closets, etc..

Friday, June 16th 1899

Record Source Court
CDC# 57020
Authority Civil District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Also CDC 57023.

Wednesday, March 11th 1891

Record Source COB
Volume 138
Page 478
CDC# 81841
Authority Civil District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Friday, July 3rd 1885

Record Source COB
Volume 121
Page 624
Authority Charles T. Soniat ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 19/75. Other transactions: COB 121/612.

Friday, April 10th 1885

Record Source COB
Volume 121
Page 605
CDC# 3872
Authority Civil District Court ( Court )
Record Type succession

Inherited.

Friday, May 2nd 1851

Record Source COB
Volume 52
Page 605
Authority A. Ducatel ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 49/57.

Friday, December 13th 1833

Record Source COB
Volume 13
Page 476
Authority ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Original Act: 33/431.

Friday, August 2nd 1833

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

Inherited.

Saturday, December 31st 1796

Record Source Historical Document
Authority Tax List ( )
Record Type [sale?]

Tax List, 3rd Ward, Wilson Collection Lot No. 42 in the name of Mr. Castillon located between Dona Josef Fernandez at No. 41 and Don Jaime Jorda at No. 43.

Wednesday, May 30th 1781

Record Source Original Act
Volume 3
Page 436
Authority L. Mazange ( Notary )
Authority Date Wednesday, May 30th 1781
Record Type partition

Mme. Marguerite Robert Duroche by partition from her sister, Mme. Marie Francoise Robert, wife of Andre Bernard.

Wednesday, May 30th 1781

Record Source Unknown
Authority L. Mazange ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

From their brother.

Tuesday, April 3rd 1781

Record Source Original Act
Volume 3
Page 259
Authority L. Mazange ( Notary )
Authority Date Tuesday, April 3rd 1781
Record Type [sale?]

"One house at the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip Street, bounded on one side by the house of Mr. Massicot and on the other by those of Carlos Tarascon."

Friday, October 8th 1773

Record Source Original Act
Volume 4
Page 287
Authority Jean Baptiste Garic ( Notary )
Authority Date Friday, October 8th 1773
Record Type exchange

"Mme. Revoil cedes to Mr. Roberto a lot situated at the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip streets, bounded by houses owned by her on one side and by lot owned by Carlos Laverney on the other. Mr. Roberto transfers to Mme. Revoil a lot and house 30' more or less on St. Louis Street, bounded by houses owned by Meuilhour and Hemm."

Monday, February 9th 1761

Record Source Unknown
Authority Augustin Chantalou ( Notary )
Record Type [sale?]

Monday, January 1st 1731

Record Source Map
Authority Gonichon Map ( Map )
Record Type land grant

Lot No. 246 granted to Parisien.

Thursday, January 1st 1728

Record Source Map
Authority Broutin Map ( Map )
Record Type vacant

Unassigned.

Thursday, January 1st 1722

Record Source Map
Authority de la Tour Map ( Map )
Record Type land grant

Lot No. 319 granted to Jean Cossine Presently to Nicolas Touzé called Richard who has built and fenced the 3rd, March 1732. He has his request. Marginal note: Nioclas Touze +

Citations

Pierre Francois Duroche, dit Castillon, native of Paris, France, married Catherine Josephe Guischard, also a native of Paris. She died 20 August 1768, New Orleans, and he died 8 December 1778, New Orleans. (See LHQ v. 13 p. 523). Their son, Simon Duroche dit Castillon, was born in New Orleans about 1755, baptized at the St. Louis Cathedral 17 April 1757. (See SLC Baptisms Book III p. 74 Act #832).

On 8 May 1779 Simon Duroche dit Castillon married Marguerite Robert, the daughter of Barthelemy Robert, a native of Bordeaux, France, and of Jeanne Beaudemort, a native of Picardy. The marriage is recorded at the St. Louis Cathedral (Book I, p. 51b Act #123). Marguerite Robert was born 13 May 1761 and baptized at the St. Louis Cathedral 13 May 1761 (Baptisms Book IV p. 76).

During their marriage the couple had the following children:

Simon Duroche, Jr. born c. 1780 - died 4 Mar. 1803 age 22.

Sesaria Duroche b. 26 Apr. 1781 - bapt. 25 May 1781

Barthelemy Duroche b. 22 Aug. 1784 - bapt. 21 Oct. 1784

An unnamed son who died 26 Nov. 1785

Andre Bernard Francois Duroche b. 28 Sept. 1786 - d. 28 June 1837

Marie Azelie Duroche b. c. 1788 - bap. 9 March 1789 - married Louis Saucier

Marie Carmelite Duroche b. 30 March 1791 - bapt. 7 May 1791 - died without heirs before 1833

Marie Marcelite Duroche b. 2 July 1793 - bapt. 7 Aug. 1793 - married Noel Gaspard Dupuy. She died 21 Nov. 1849.

Marguerite Manette Duroche b. 26 July 1795 - bap. 19 Oct. 1795 - married Manuel de St. Germain 23 Oct. 1823.

Soiphie Antoinette Duroche bapt. 17 May 1804 age c. 5 years - married Victor Navarre.

Eulalie Duroche bapt. 14 Mar. 1800 age 4 months - married Louis Dejean.

Simon Duroche dit Castillon died in New Orleans 26 May 1799 (see SLC Interments 1832-33 p. 344 Act #2209). (Her will is found in Will Book IV p. 464-465, Civil District Court, New Orleans). The will lists ten children.

— VCS Binder
Author: VCS Staff

4 Building in French Quarter Designated U.S. Landmarks

— Vieux Carre Courier

"A square west of Royal, at the corner of Bourbon and ST. Philip streets, formerly stood the famed smithy of the Brothers Lafitte: but it is now useless to seek for a vestige of that workshop... "

The Scenes of Cable's Romances

— Century Magazine, p. 43
Author: Hearn, Lafcadio Date: Thursday, November 1st 1883

"...This so-called "Lafitte Smithy", if you are interested in facts, was probably never put to such a use, in spite of the words on the iron plaque now decorating its Bourbon Street wall. It is, however, a very ancient structure for our careful search through musty notarial acts takes us back to the fifteenth day of December, 1772, when Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, then a lowly escribano público, set down the terms of a realty transfer. The second notary to record a sale of this property was Jean Garic, who scribbled a hard-to-read document in 1773. In 1791 this little house was included when listing the succession of Bartholome Robert and the site and building were sold to the Widow Simon Duroché, who had been Marguerite Robert. Senor Duroché, it appears, had an alias, which the careful notary set down as "Castillion." It was not until September 24, 1833, that the Widow Duroché sold the place to the Widow Christian Miltenberger. From owner to owner the little house was transferred until it reached its present status - a plumber's shop."

— Old New Orleans: A History of the Vieux Carré
Author: Stanley Clisby Arthur Date: Friday, January 1st 1937

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop legend or fact?

— Vieux Carre Courier
Author: Edith E. Long Date: Friday, August 20th 1965

Great bars: Romance from Lafitte's

— States-Item
Author: Pepe Citron Date: Wednesday, September 5th 1973

Lafitte Shop History-Rich

— Times-Picayune
Date: Sunday, July 4th 1976