LCV Winter 2012 - (Page 94)

HOME and GARDEN New Orleans’ Garden District is chronicled in a lavish book ocumenting a New Orleans neighborhood offers what one of home and work. might call a “delightful challenge.” Three centuries of But it was the subdivision of Livaudais Plantation in 1832 that history are infused into every block of the Vieux Carré, and truly marked a new era for residential life in the city. Planned while the outlying neighborhoods (or faubourgs) were not with only four lots per block, this new neighborhood would established until a bit later, they offer a rich tale all their own. extend from Jackson Avenue to the newly-created Louisiana Jim Fraiser, who also wrote The French Quarter of New Orleans Avenue, a footprint that remains today. Named “Lafayette City” in (2003), has assembled a fine collection of photographs, architectural 1850, it was served by steam engine rail service on Nayades commentary and historical sketches in The Garden District of New Street (now St. Charles Avenue). Orleans. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 The early Garden District was a motley collection of and given National Historic structures. Utilitarian buildings were Landmark designation in 1974, the near the riverfront, many constructed Garden District’s 80 blocks, from the gunwales of shipping The Garden District of New Orleans containing more than 1,000 flatboats. These could be found next by Jim Fraiser structures, comprise “a door to modest cottages and a few photography by West Freeman concentration of fine antebellum stately homes. A current-day stroll University Press of Mississippi, 2012 architecture set in beautifully along side streets near the Mississippi landscaped grounds . . . a unique River will reveal some of what a visitor treasure . . . both urbane might have encountered in 1850. and idyllic.” Grande dame mansions abut Using the French renovated workers’ Quarter as his houses, and one-way starting point, streets create quiet Fraiser describes lanes off main New Orleans’ thoroughfares. architectural pedigree, Greek Revival homes with its French, Spanish and built in the 1830s were American influence. He shows meant to convey “simplicity, how Creole cottages, townhouses strength, and dignity.” For those and commercial structures merged into a who saw themselves as members of surprisingly cohesive whole. The the newly-ascendant class of merchants development of the upriver neighborhoods shows and brokers, the style suited their aspirations. a similar progression — albeit on a larger scale. Both center-hall and side-hall (also known as The Faubourg St. Marie, adjacent to the French Quarter, “London Plan”) houses are found throughout the now the Central Business District, was established in the late Garden District. These designs are adaptable to 18th century by americains. The term was used by Creoles (those extended wings and bays, and can be found in both wood born in the city with European heritage) to distinguish themselves and masonry construction. One such example is the Grigson from newcomers. Canal Street served as the bright line between House (1835) on Seventh Street, a beautifully tended woodnew and old; developers of Faubourg St. Marie built in the Federal frame charmer. and Greek Revival style “something recognizable in Northern cities, Fraiser is fluent in architectural lingo — this will be either a such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.” Extant rowhouses joy or a frustration for readers. Some will quickly skim over known as the “Thirteen Sisters” on Julia Street between Camp Street lengthy descriptions: “two story, five bay side hall, with and St. Charles Avenue typify the style with their brick construction Corinthian columns over Ionic columns on the galleries,” and go and efficient use of space. straight for the beautiful photographs and sidebar notes. In the early 19th century, Barthélémy Lafon designed Faubourg Nonetheless, the author’s attention to detail is entirely what Annunciation, now called the Lower Garden District. Just upriver readers of this type of book expect. from Faubourg St. Marie, the residential neighborhood was To wit, the Payne-Strachan House (1849-50) was the location designed with larger lots and grander homes, and was only a short of the 1889 death of Jefferson Davis, president of the commute for downtown businessmen. This brought a uniquely Confederacy. The property extends to three sides of the block “American” way of living into New Orleans culture — the separation and is a glorious artifact of the Garden District’s heyday. Fraiser 94 Louisiana EndowmEnt for thE humanitiEs • Winter 2012-13 D 

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LCV Winter 2012

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