523-527 Governor Nicholls 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...lately forming the Military Barracks of the United States.

"Quarter Property Upkeep Key in Retaining Values:
Forced Action by Owner or Sale Suggested:

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The Creoles may not have liked it, but the American influence was felt even in the French Quarter.

Late in the second decade of the 19th Century there was a a trend toward certain American building practices and styles which in turn were based on the English mode..."

523-527-531 Gov. Nicholls Street

Erected: c. 1845-1846
Architect: unknown
Builder: unknown

This row of three, nearly identical three-story brick buildings must have been a substantial addition to the street in the days when they were built by William Massey. They are typical of the combined business-dwelling structures erected at that period.

Obviously they are stout buildings, for nothing else would have withstood the neglect to which these have been subjected. Yet the essential elements are still here, and despite hard usage there would seem to have been less change to the façade of this row than to many others in the square.

The openings are all square headed with French doors giving onto the galleries. Most of these doors are still intact. At the second and third floor levels are wrought iron galleries of the earlier designs. The second floor gallery is composed of simple upright rods trimmed with a scrollwork railing border, and the third floor is the familiar cathedral arch pattern. 523-527 still has several gardes de frises separating portions of the third floor gallery. The top balcony is shallow, while the second floor gallery extends over the whole sidewalk, and is supported by fluted columns of cast iron. It is possible that this may have been a narrow gallery originally and has since been extended over the sidewalk. All the decking has disappeared from both galleries.

A solid brick cornice of dentils and moldings runs across the width of all three buildings tying them further together. The rear of this structure is in a state of extreme decay. Yet the fascinating wooden galleries and catwalks, the great fan arched windows, the domestic accommodations of an earlier day are still here. While the woodwork is so far gone as to be treacherous, still so much stands that the rear is virtually source material on a mid-nineteenth century Creole dwelling. Much of the great depth of the courtyard has been covered over with a shed, and any earlier structures are obscured.

These are the buildings that were undoubtedly erected by William Massey after his purchase of the property in 1845-1846. The two lots known today as 523-527 were the Lots No. 1 and 2 sold by Municipality No. One through Mayor Edgar Montegut at a public sale on June 30, 1845. At this time Mr. Massey contracted with the city to improve the lots by building on them "before the 25th of November next." This land was part of a larger portion of the square bought by the city from John McDonogh in 1837. The city had torn down the old barracks in 1838, and since that time much of this land seems to have stood empty---being used for public entertainments. But it was evidently felt that this property was worth more, and so the city, in selling it off, secured the future of the land by requiring substantial improvements within a time limit and offering financial inducements in the bargain.

Prior to the sale by the city this land had been divided differently. John McDonogh had acquired present 523-527 in two portions, one from Jean Nicolas, who had bought it at the original auction in 1821. The other half McDonogh himself bought, with Letters Patent, in 1821. In 1824, he offered to exchange his whole ownership in this square with the Federal Government for a square in the present Canal Street area, as a place to house the military. Though the plan apparently fell through, he continued to rent the property back as barracks at what was evidently a considerable profit to himself. But business pressures were brought to bear to improve this part of town, and in 1837 he sold it to the city.

The third lot, present-day 531 Gov. Nicholls Street, also came out of the McDonogh tract. This was part of a big portion purchased by Dominique Lanata. A year later he sold it off to his partner, Pierre Passebon, who shortly thereafter sold to Mr. Massey. All three of these buildings were probably built soon afterwards.

For nearly half a century William Massey owned this establishment. It was not until his death in 1893 that this property passed into other hands. All three buildings were bought by the Saia family, and like much else hereabouts passed into the wholesale grocery trade.

For a little over another half century it stayed with the Saias passing from one Succession to another, but remaining in the family. Maps shows that the sheds in the rear had been built in 1908, and that this was just part of a burgeoning grocery empire. These three buildings were acquired by the Matassa family in 1956. Though most of this extensive property seems to be standing idle, it is now related to the recording studio next door, and parts of the first floor of one slave quarter structure seem to be used in the business. If property restored this could be a spectacular location for that firm.

"Vieux Carre Unit Leader Opposes Part of Project:
Zoning Board Hears Appeal of G. Brian Corp.:

G. Brian Corp. representatives appealing before the Board of Zoning Adjustments drew some opposition from Mrs. Jacob H. Morrison, president of the Vieux Carre Property Owners and Associates..."

"Judicial Advertisement....In the matter of Southern Land Title Corporation, debtor in the proceedings for the reorganization of a corporation, No. 67-135, Section 'B'....

Pursuant to an order by Hon. Frederick J.R. Heebe, United States District Judge, the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana shall proceed to sell at public auction...the following described property..."

"Builder Is Given Time Extension:
Wants to Put Up Luxury Quarter Apartments:

A builder who wants to construct luxury condominium apartments in the French Quarter was granted a time extension on his controversial proposal Friday afternoon..."

"Demolition or Bracing Of Old Hospital Ordered:

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The demolition or propping up of one of the French Quarter's most historic and architecturally valuable buildings---the old French Hospital at 521-531 Gov. Nicholls---has been ordered by the Fire Prevention Division of the Fire Department..."

"French Quarter Building in Midst of New Dispute:
Preservationists Resist Demolition Order:

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An old French Quarter building, long the subject of court dispute, is now the center of a broiling new controversy..."

"Demolition Suit Filed in Vieux Carre Battle:

A New Orleans contractor has purchased the French Hospital property at 521-31 Gov. Nicholls and filed suit to force the city to issue a permit for the demolition of the historic old structure..."

"Judge Dismisses Suit To Raze Old Building:

A suit to allow the demolition of a historic building at the site of the Old French Hospital in the French Quarter has been thrown out by Civil District Court Judge Oliver P. Carriere..."

"Court Denies Mandamus for Building Demolition:
Suit Over Quarter Site is Dismissed:

A contractor's suit to obtain a city permit to tear down the old building at 521-31 Gov. Nicholls was dismissed Friday by Civil District Court Judge Oliver P. Carriere..."

"Abraham Files Appeal in Suit:
Gov. Nicholls Property Razing Asked:

Attorneys for the Wilson P. Abraham Construction Company have asked the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal to allow demolition of 521-31 Gov. Nicholls..."

"Razing Contest in Court Again:

The Wilson P. Abraham Construction Corp. Thursday filed a second Civil District Court suit seeking permission to tear down the building at 521-31 Gov. Nicholls St..."

"Court Rejects Demolish Suit:
French Quarter Building Razing is Sought:

The Supreme Court of Louisiana denied an application to review a suit attempting to obtain permission to demolish a French Quarter building..."

"Court Denies Demolish Suit:
Latest Action is Ruled to be Premature:

The Wilson P. Abraham Construction Corporation Friday lost a second Civil District Court suit seeking permission to demolish the building at 521-31 Gov. Nicholls..."

"VCC Approves Demolition of Building Part:

The Vieux Carre Commission yesterday gave a construction firm permission to demolish certain portions of an historic building on Gov. Nicholls Street..."

"VCC to Buy Vieux Carre 'Hospital':

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The Vieux Carre Commission has decided to acquire and rehabilitate a controversial 122-year-old building at 523-31 Gov. Nicholls..."

"VCC to Acquire Historical Site:
Demolishing of Hospital Building Forbidden:

The Vieux Carre Commission will acquire the historic Hospital Building at 523-31 Gov. Nicholls, Wayne Collier, director of the comm[i]ssion, announced Friday..."

"Old Hospital to be Restored:
City Setting Up Fund

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The Vieux Carre Commission held special ceremonies today to mark the city's first public restoration project in the French Quarter, the old French Hospital building at 523-31 Gov. Nicholls..."

"Why is it --

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that the row of buildings at 523-531 Gov. Nicholls (recently the subject of controversy between developers and preservationists) are repeatedly referred to and described as "the historic, old French Hospital?" It's not true. The fact is that the Ursuline nuns did construct a building in that square that was to be a hospital but it never was and the building has long ago disappeared. That was in the 1750's. The buildings standing were built as houses around 1840. There was however a hospital on Gov. Nicholls, on the uptown side of the street. But that was demolished long ago. In its Historic District Demonstration Study of the Vieux Carre the Bureau of Governmental Research colors the buildings green, indicating their importance to the local scene. But they have never been recognized as being of national or of major significance, a certainty had they been a hospital built in the 1750's. Architect-historian Samuel Wilson Jr. said he can't understand why so many refer to the residential structures as old French Hospital."

"City Auction to End 17 Years of Neglect:

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Old French Quarter townhouses that have been structurally stabilized are going on the auction block Nov. 8 at 9:15 a.m. at City Council chambers..."

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"French Quarter property sold - This property at 523-531 Gov. Nicholls St. in the French Quarter was sold recently by the city of New Orleans to Jules L. Cahn for $170,000."

"Condominiums should soothe an old eyesore:

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Somehow, some way, William Massey must be smiling upon William and Jan Brubaker for what they are doing to his old haunt at 525 Gov. Nicholls St.

The two young developers have undertaken a $2 million restoration of the rundown structure at 523-31 Gov. Nicholls..."

"Posh N.O. condos a long time coming:

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After years of controversy, the investment of more than $2 million and the plans of at least two developers, the three-story building at 525-31 Gov. Nicholls St. is finally ready to open as posh condominiums..."