The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-14
AN OLD LANDMARK.
The First Four-Story House In
New Orleans.

Perhaps there is no other city in the Unit
whore those old landmarks of the past, pyr
mids of our by-gone generations, are 10
known or sought after than in New Orlesn
Comparatively few people know anythin
about the battle-ground of ChaImette, belo
the city, and still fewer Of quite large nun
Der of other interesting relics of our progen
nitors in the very heart Of our metropolis.
Wandering about of an afternoon in tn
Second District, BULLETIN reporter for tn
hundredth time was stfack with the quaint
ness and varied characteristics Of some Of on
time-worn Creole houses down whose roof
the sparkling showers Of more than a hun
bred summers had dipped. Curious old
houses these The very embodiment of the
plain, old-time yet correct ideas Of what q
Southern dwelling should be. 'ue -
Passing along by the corner Of Royal and
st. Peter street the attention can hardly fail
being called to lofty ancient-looking edifce,
V some four stories high, OF peculiar archi-
lecture and rather sombre appearance OF q
dull, blush gray color, with splotches on its
front like an old small pox patient. where the
weather has made inroads upon the once
smooth stucco, it stands silent reminder of
those well remembered days when prosperity
and wealth made our city the Mecca Of the
Southwest, toward which pilgrims Of pleasure
with never-failing recurrence visited The
building was once occupied by Jean Fisse,
grocer, and will be, recalled by the fact that
it bears no little resemblance TO- some of the
old houses on the banks Of the canals of
Venice. ~ 3."A ,t1a ri
There is something con neoted with it, how
Uif Tn no
year 1919 1t was erected. At that time where
the French Vegetable Market now stands old
Magnan presided over the destinies Of most
original saw mill. The logs were dragged up
from the river and placed On sort Of plat.
form with trench beneath One stout and
stalwart negro would then mount the log, and
below in the trench was another with his head
well covered with q sack-cloth vail. Here
they worked day after day plying Up and
downIup and down one Of those long two
handled saws, such as our wood cutters use
now in saving of timber. t@tlA -
What was the capacity Ia lumber feet Of
such mill as this we have no means Of |
knowing, but it must have been somewhat |
inconsiderable. Just above the mill, near |
whore the French Meat Market now stands. |
was the blacksmith Of the city. Hitler came |
unfortunate cartrneh to have the broad and |
unwieldly tires Of that day adjusted to the
wheels Of their clumsy vehicles, and here too
came the ladies' little mustangs to have their
delicate feet shod. h'4 "d'0A - "''.-a" NJ
There were no four-story houses here then.
bruited about that Graudchamps was going to I
erect a fosr,story house at the corner Of Russ
Roydle ct Saint Pierre. w, 't'. s"h ~ ~
At this day it is difacult to say exactly how
much Of a commotion this rumor caused
amongst the quiet and retiring denizens of the
place. From our old and respected inform
ant we learn, however, that it was something
beyond the ordinary, indeed II was the talk en- T.
vile for some days. 2" Bah said some Of the
pioneers ion. r Of the place IT il simply impos
morning those who strolled out III the cool /
Air were surprised to see negroes. digging On |
he very spot for good foundation. The re-
port spread. Grandchamps' house had been +
commenced r That afternoon GRO wds gather,
ID about the spot looking. down into the
rench filed with water, and significantly
"PoDr man. He will fail. He
can not put up o four-story house hers" One | !.
lay after another passed and the walls began |
o rise. The first story was reached. The
ak became louder. II would surely fall n
'hen the other three were put upon it. +,
During these times thefs was no almanac
lsed in the city except ons published ia IA.
ana, Cuba, and this was taken because It f.
ave prognostications Of coming hurricanes. a
he venerables consulted their aimanacs, and :
ure enough storm was Ia stofe for the next
Month. Higher, still higher, the walls crept
p The first foof, tho second, then the z
bird, and yet 1t did hot fan. q lIYi
In the lull and quiet Of our summer after 1 .
oons old gentlemen, sof whom are alive y
'-day, used to congregate about the new d
uilding They winked aha nodded to one :
mother and slyly whispered Of the coming y
III OF Grandchamps house. They leaned T.
pom their walking and talked Of the q,
orm OF the almanac ooming, and guessed as =
} the probable number that would be killed }
hen the structure fell They brought their 4
tile ones and pointed out the fow.story house 2
NouveA1 Orleans. - N
The workmen went on, and one brick affert
lother was added. Window and door cas-. ~
gs were put in, the roof was completed, and
It it stood, and all the prophecies failed. ~
be winter Of 10 was, quite q gay one, and :
II Creole circles were as lighf-hearted as Il
ey have Always BEEN Bright lights shown
it OF ths windows, at the tall dwelling cor ~ ~
II ST Peter and Royal streets. The trip
ng OF dainty, winsome feet on the rude
'oring, from Magnan's mill of two man Jo
'wer, was heard, and once in a while there
iked out through the old fashioned shutters ]
Q ringing laugh of some little creole belle DR.,
lie danceand the laughter did net bring down
Q place, neither had the September storm. 4.
d through all these years has survived
my merry-making in the first four story &
use in Ne,o Orleans. st ADJ
Best Cordova coffee, parchsd or ground, IS :
Its per pound, at the Tea Depot, Camp street.
Buy your carriages, buggies and baby -
CONS of L. T. Maddux. IS Carondelet street :.