Labatut Plantation, New Roads Louisiana

Date added: February 11, 2023 Categories: Louisiana House Plantations & Farms

Labatut is a rare and landmark example of a major two-story Creole plantation house. Labatut exhibits finely crafted rare Federal decorative elements and a particularly rare transitional floorplan, both of which show how the Anglo-American building tradition influenced French Creole builders. Although it is unfortunate that the house is currently in a deteriorated condition, the historic fabric and details which remain mark Labatut as a most significant example of both Creole and Federal architecture.

The Creole style is regarded by the State Historic Preservation Office as the state's most important building tradition. It is the factor that distinguishes Louisiana from virtually every other state as well as being the principal non-British colonial style in the eastern half of the continental United States. The style, which embraces everything from one-room cottages to Large residences, finds its highest expression in the major, two-story Creole plantation house. Approximately thirty of these survive in Louisiana from the pre-Greek Revival period. Labatut is one of these. The home's rarity is further reinforced by its floor plan. Although one-story Anglo-French houses with transitional floorplans focused upon central hallways exist in Louisiana, two-story Creole plantation houses constructed with central hallways are very rare.

Labatut's Federal woodwork also contributes to its rarity. In Louisiana, far more Creole houses with Greek Revival woodwork have survived than have those showing Federal influence, and Labatut's woodwork is among the finest examples of the Federal style in the state. Its significant elements include elaborate cornices, paneled baseboards, delicately molded door and window surrounds, delicate fanlights, and fluted spandrels highlighting the second floor's central entrances.

According to Labatut family tradition, the house was built sometime between 1790 and 1810 for Don Evariste de Barra, a Spanish nobleman who helped defend New Orleans during the War of 1812. Architectural evidence (such as the home's central hall plan and molding profiles) points to a somewhat later construction date. At any rate, it is known that the home came into the hands of the Labatut family when de Barra's sister Euphemie married Jean Pierre Labatut. Jean Pierre was the son of Jean Baptist Labatut, who distinguished himself as attorney general of the Cabildo and, later, as treasurer of the City of New Orleans. The Labatut family continuously occupied the house until c. 1983. Although currently vacant, it remains in the family's hands.

Building Description

Labatut is a major two-story Creole plantation house that exhibits Anglo-American influence in its floor plan and elaborate Federal woodwork. Although Labatut family tradition suggests that the house was built between 1790 and 1810, the architectural evidence points to c.1820 as a more reasonable construction date. The brick-between-post house is located on the south bank of the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish and stands only a few precarious feet from the encroaching levee and River Road.

Although Labatut is primarily a French dwelling, it contains two important features which reflect the growing influence of Anglo-American architectural styles on Louisiana's Creole population. First, the home's floor plan is organized around a central hallway flanked by single rooms on each side (see attached plan). Second, the home features truly outstanding Federal detailing on both its first and second floors. This first-floor treatment is contrary to the usual Creole custom of treating the lower floor as a spare utilitarian space.

Labatut also has twelve-over-twelve windows, faux bois-painted interior doors paneled in the Greek Revival style, paneling lining the inside of the door frames, paneled shutters (those on the upper gallery are more elaborate than those below), and a gallery balustrade displaying a stylized wheat sheaf pattern. Evidence of original paint pigments is still visible on some shutters, doors, and interior walls. The dining room punkah is in storage.

Unfortunately, Labatut has experienced a general deterioration in condition over time. However, the home is currently undergoing a slow but methodical restoration at the hands of current Labatut family members. Notable changes since the home's construction (other than general deterioration) include the following:

1) In the 1930s a hurricane blew out the downstairs front door and transom. Architectural evidence suggests that the replacement transom is shaped differently from the original.

2) The fanlight above the downstairs rear entrance has been replaced by a latticework trellis, and at some point (possibly the Victorian Era), the clear glass panes of this entrance's sidelights were replaced by etched and colored glass.

3) During the 1950s or 1960s, the upper floor of the front gallery was either replaced or underwent major repairs. Although an attempt was made to conform to the original, the gallery's exposed beaded ceiling beams were not replicated.

4) One of the upper cabinet rooms was converted into a bath. To accomplish this, exposed plumbing pipes were installed in the cabinet below.

5) The classical detailing of the dormers has been removed.

6) The home's original mantels were replaced by simple Greek Revival mantels in the 1840s or 1850s. All but one of these later mantels have been lost.

As a result of ongoing work on the house, the following additional changes have occurred:

1) All of the fireboxes have been rebuilt and lined with fire brick, and the chimneys are in the process of being rebuilt.

2) A concrete sub-floor has been added to the first story.

3) The damaged downstairs shutters have been replicated using the more elaborate shutters of the upper floor as a pattern.

4) Flooring and additional framing have been added in the attic.

Standing near the rear corner of the home is a small reconstructed frame building which supposedly replicates Labatut's former detached kitchen.