Historic Structures

Historic Structures

Just over two hundred years ago, Louisiana became a part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. The seeds of democracy were sown shortly thereafter when the territorial government was established. Pointe Coupée Parish has a notable place in the beginnings of the democratic government through its resident Julien Poydras.

The first courthouse was located near the Mississippi River and was destroyed by fire in 1846. It was rebuilt around 1848, where the existing courthouse stands today, as the rear portion of this building. The front of the building was dedicated on October 6, 1902. A centennial anniversary was held in 2002 as a tribute to the dedicaton of the front portion cornerstone. According to Brain Costello, historian and author, the bricks for the front portion of the courthouse were made at the New Roads Brickyard on Texas Street.

The courthouse was made into a limited edition miniature ceramic by the New Roads Main Street organization.

White Hall Plantation, in north Pointe Coupée Parish, was built around 1849. It was once the home of general, state senator and founder of the town of Simmesport - Bennett Barton Simmes. The building also was used as the headquarters for Union Army General Nathaniel Banks during the Battle of Port Hudson in 1863. As with most plantation homes and buildings near the rivers, White Hall has been moved back from the river three times. It is currently being restored and will be open to the public when completed. A State Historic Marker commemorates White Hall Plantation.

For more information, visit: http://www.whitehallplantationhouse.com

The house known as the La Cour house, now located in the Chenal, has been moved several times including out of the parish to Jefferson Island before it returned "home." After a dedicated restoration effort to get it back to its orignal structure, it was revealed that the building dates back possibly to the 1760s with bousillage walls, (a mixture of moss, lime and mud) and massive support beams measuring 8-inch-by-8-inch.

for further information, see the article in The Pointe Coupee Banner (11/13/2003), "Chenal area couple save Louisiana architectural gems, including Pointe Coupee's La Cour House

Did You Know that a slave once lived in the Leufroy Fabre House?

Currently preserved in the Chenal, this house was originally on the west banks of the False River and was the home of former slave "Pa Louis" Dalmas. It is believed in the community that he lived to be a little over 110 years old.

Do You Know of any Pointe Coupéeans who are 90 years or older, past or present? As a tribute to our centenarians, we would like to create an archive including their short biography and wisdoms. Let us know about them.

The church, designed by New Orleans architect Theodore Brune, used local bricks made at the J. P. Gosserand New Roads Brickyard. Stained glass windows were added in the 1920s, 1930s, and in 1992, with a set of windows designed by church historian and local architect, Glenn Morgan.

This church is a second in a series of miniature ceramic historic buildings by the New Roads Main Street organization.

Did You Know that the original fort in the 1720s was located near the present-day St. Franciscille ferry landing on the Mississippi River?

The fort for Pointe Coupée was located on the Mississippi River side, nearest the main thruway and for protection. It is believed that the replica of the fort St. Jean Baptiste in Natchitoches is similar to the one which existed in Pointe Coupée. A British officer, Pittman, wrote a description of the poste of Pointe Coupée in the 1760s.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste (replica), Natchitoches, LA