One of the Few Remaining French Creole Plantation Homes in St. James Parish LA


Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana
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Date added: January 25, 2025
West Northwest (1990)

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The Graugnard Farms Plantation House is among a limited number of French Creole residences in St. James Parish, which once had many more. Although it is unfortunate that the home's basement story has been lost, it is still among the oldest and largest of Creole homes in the parish. It also displays rare examples of French Creole building techniques.

The 1858 Persac Map of the Mississippi River shows approximately 111 St. James Parish plantations identified by the names of their owners. In addition, the map depicts a large number of unnamed agricultural tracts. Because the Creoles were the dominant group to settle and develop the area before the Civil War, it is fair to assume that many of the houses on these plantations would have been in the Creole style. Thus, one can legitimately estimate that St. James Parish had a minimum of perhaps 150 Creole style houses in 1858. However, the Historic Structures Survey of the parish indicates that only about 31 Creole houses remain. Eighteen of these date from after 1870, leaving only thirteen to represent the parish's earlier Creole tradition. Indeed, with its c. 1790-1820 construction date, Graugnard Farms is one of the three oldest Creole homes in the parish. Graugnard Farms is one of only eight Creole dwellings in the parish that use bousillage infill in their walls.

The plantation now known as Graugnard Farms was formed from three smaller agricultural tracts. The first, a 300-400 acre tract known as Sidney Plantation, was purchased by Fortune Graugnard and his brother Camille sometime after 1886. It was previously owned by a family named Cantrell. A few years later, they added the adjacent 800 acres known as Bon Secours ("Good Help") to their holdings. In 1926 family members purchased an additional tract of 800 acres known as Carbero. The present-day plantation is 2,300 acres in size and is known as both Graugnard Farms and Bon Secours Plantation.

Building Description

The Graugnard Farms Plantation House (c. 1790-1820) is a large one-story frame residence in the French Creole style. The house faces the Mississippi River and stands in a rural setting on the western bank in St. James Parish near the community of St. James. Due to levee setbacks, it has been moved back, on the same piece of property, three times. It has also lost its basement story.

The house began life as a fully raised Creole plantation house with a frame upper floor and brick basement story. The premier etage, or main living space, consisted of four rooms with a front gallery and rear cabinet/loggia range. Sometime during the mid-nineteenth century, a second range of four rooms was created from the existing cabinet/loggia space, and another cabinet/loggia range was added beneath a newly attached rear shed roof. This unusually large plan (see Attachment A) survives with only minor changes which will be described below. Although the dates of the first and second setbacks are unknown, the third move can be dated to the 1880s. It was at this time that the owners elected not to rebuild the basement story. Instead, they placed the premier etage three feet above grade on brick piers.

In addition to the floorplan described above, Creole features present in the home today include the following:

1) an unusual French pavilion hipped roof with flared eaves and end surfaces more highly pitched than those in front and back. The accompanying truss support system is extremely rare (see Attachment B).

2) a hand hewn pegged timber frame,

3) bousillage walls,

4) chamfered columns on both the front gallery and rear loggia. Those on the gallery appear to be original, while those on the loggia were apparently salvaged from the original loggia which was enclosed during the mid-nineteenth-century expansion described above.

5) seven sets of French doors, four found on the gallery and three opening onto the Loggia.

Other features of interest in the house include:

1) three light transoms over all of the French doors,

2) heavy exterior shutters,

3) five inch weatherboard siding, and

4) dormers.

In addition to the lowering of the primary story, as previously explained, the house has undergone the following alterations:

1) Sometime before the 1880s move, the salle was partitioned to create a narrow central hall. The French door opening into this new hall was replaced by a single leaf door flanked by sidelights and surmounted by a transom. As a result of this change, the former salle became the dining room and the chambre directly behind became the new salle. A set of pocket doors (still operative) was installed in the wall separating the two rooms.

2) Either during or shortly after the 1880s move, mantels showing the influence of the Italianate style were installed in place of the home's original mantels. The replacements do not wrap around the boxed flue in the French manner. In addition, a beaded board dado was installed on the walls of several rooms.

3) During the 1920s, a modern bathroom was installed in the southern cabinet. A second bath was carved from space in the front north chambre and the room directly behind this chambre was converted into a modern kitchen. A small storage room was built on the loggia next to the southern cabinet, and closets were installed beside several of the fireplaces. Most of the interior wall surfaces were covered by wallboard, and a double window was installed in one exterior wall.

4) The home's chimneys were, by necessity, rebuilt after each move. Much later, the chimney tops were removed as part of a 1970 roof replacement.

Although the Graugnard Farms Plantation House has experienced several changes over the years, it still clearly retains its identity as a Creole house. Indeed, its rare roof truss and flared eaves, bousillage walls, and all but one

French door survive intact. Its large and unusual Creole floorplan is still discernible despite the addition of the central hall and bath. While the loss of the home's basement story is certainly regrettable, this space was primarily utilitarian in nature. The more important story, the premier etage, survives. The additions of the formal central entrance door and hallway reflect the Creole response to the Anglo presence in Louisiana and are themselves historic. While the mantels no longer wrap around the fireplace, the French boxed flues are still partially visible.

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Site Plan
Site Plan

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Floor Plans
Floor Plans

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana West Northwest (1990)
West Northwest (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Facing northwest, buildings in background are on an adjacent property (1990)
Facing northwest, buildings in background are on an adjacent property (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Facing east (1990)
Facing east (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Facing south southeast (1990)
Facing south southeast (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Southwest (1990)
Southwest (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Interior (1990)
Interior (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Interior rear gallery door (1990)
Interior rear gallery door (1990)

Graugnard Farms Plantation House, St. James Louisiana Interior attic (1990)
Interior attic (1990)