1222-1226 Chartres St.

Letter from John McDonogh offering to sell to the United States the building at Hospital and Chartres, measuring 56' by 255' equal in height to a three-story building, located on a lot measuring 255' front on Chartres Street by 200' of depth and front on Hospital Street, lately forming the Military Barracks of the United States.

"U. S. Barracks. The buildings formerly used for troops in garrison in this city were erected by the French government about a century ago, and occupied the square immediately below the convent on Conde Street. In the year 1828, on account of the petition of sundry inhabitants, stating the uselessness of a garrison in New Orleans, and that the ground on which these buildings stood was wanted for the improvement of the city, the barracks were ordered sold, by the General Government, which was done; although strange to say, the Government has since been under the necessity, when a garrison was once more required by the citizens, of renting the same buildings from the purchaser at good price. This year, however, (1838) they are being demolished, in order to improve the property; and have been found in a surprising state of preservation..."

"Howe & Mabie's Circus: The extensive equestrian company of these managers is to commence performing this evening on a vacant square of ground in Conde between Hospital and Barracks, and under a spacious double pavilion, which is fitted up in novel style and lit by gas..."

"Olympic Arena and New York Circus, Howe and Maybie, managers...opening February 15, 1845... "

Copy of letter

"To the Honorable Recorder and Alderman of Municipality No. 1.

Gentlemen:

The undersigned purchasers of the McDonogh property lately sold to you, being desirous of improving [the] same immediately, beg leave to make the following request. First, that your honorable body will grant us a discount of 8% on the purchase. Second, that you will give us the benefit of the bonus offered by you in your resolution of 10% on the credit part. We [bind] ourselves to build and improve said lots to the amount of $25,000 to $30,000. [We ask t]hat you will exempt the property from the tax of 1846. We also beg leave to lay before your Honorable body the plan and elevation of the houses we intend to construct from which you will be convinced of the advantages and benefit of this improvement will be to that part of the city. We therefore look to you for some encouragement and hope your Honorable body will grant our request for which we ever pray.

Signed:
Dominique Lanata
P. Rodriguez
P. Passebon."

J. Cuvillier, Vol. 42/261

"The Barracks proper formed a single building, nearly a square and a half in length, two stories high, built of brick, plastered with a coating of lime, and having on its front as well as in its rear a wide gallery supported by a row of strong, square pillars, also constructed of the same material, i.e. bricks plastered with a cement made of mussel shell lime..."

The Houses Between 1200-1234 Chartres Street

The row of five double two story houses in the Greek Revival style on the river side of Chartres Street between Gov. Nicholls and Barracks is a row of unusual architectural interest and if properly restored, as they should be, would be of major architectural importance in the Vieux Carre.

They were designed by J.N.B. de Pouilly, the noted architect of the St. Louis Hotel, the St. Louis Cathedral, the Olivier House and other important New Orleans buildings. The property was purchased from the First Municipality of the City by Dominique Lanata, including the entire Chartres Street frontage with the exception of the two corner lots, but including four lots in the rear facing Barracks Street and two facing Gov. Nicholls. The Gov. Nicholls Street corner was probably sold at the same auction on May 20, 1845 and the Tiblier house which still occupies it was then erected. The Barracks Street corner, now occupied by a factory building, was the property purchased in 1821 from the United States Government by Francois Duplessis and on which he erected an elegant residence for his daughter Adelaide, wife of John K. West. When Duplessis bought this corner from the Government in 1821, the rest of the Chartres Street frontage of the square was purchased by John McDonogh. The entire block was then occupied by the barracks that had been built by the French Government in 1758 as a military hospital but adapted to barracks use when the barracks facing the Place d'Armes (Jackson Square) had to be abandoned.

After the Federal Government sold the barracks, according to Gibson's Guide of 1838, "the government has since been under the necessity, when a garrison was once more required by the citizens, of renting the same buildings from the purchaser at a good price. This year, however, (1838) they are being demolished, in order to improve the property, and have been found in a surprising state of preservation, considering their antiquity." The city bought the property from John McDonogh on April 7, 1837 before the notary Felix de Armas.

For some years the ground were used for a circus and menagerie site until the city sold the property to Lanata. After the purchase Lanata and his associates P. Rodriguez and J. Passebon presented a petition to the City Council saying that they were desirous of improving the property immediately and presented a plan and elevation of the houses they proposed to build, asking an exemption from their 1845 taxes and a concession in the terms for their payment of the property. At its session of June 3, 1845, the council authorized the latter request but declined the tax exemption. This was at about the same time that the Council granted similar tax concessions to Madame Pontabla who proposed then to build her famous buildings facing Jackson Square.

"Along the banquette:

The remainder of Chartres met a different fate. At the General Land Office auction in 1821, the canny tycoon John McDonogh bought the square on speculation..."

"Restoration of 2 Sites in Vieux Carre Okayed:
Demolition of Chartres Building Denied:

The Vieux Carre Commission Tuesday at City Hall gave its approval to the restoration of two buildings at 1216-20 and 1222-26 Chartres..."