Braithwaite, Louisiana
It is not known exactly when Mary Plantation was built, though the land seven leagues below New Orleans on the left bank of the Mississippi river, was originally settled by the Chaouchas Indians. According to the American State Papers, a prominent Frenchman, Louis Martin Bragner De Clouet, a critical figure in the development of New Orleans and the land below it, acquired t
his tract of land in 1774 from a complete Spanish Land Grant. Based on Historic Analysis, the original two-room house may have been built at this time. The Norman Truss which supported the original double pitch pavilion roof is still present in the attic. In the late 18th century Joseph Dalcour, a prominent French Colonial planter, assembled several thousand acres of land, which became the Plantations of Stella, Mary and Terre Promise’ (Promised Land). On October 12, 1827, an uninterrupted chain of Title begins with a property transfer of the land know as Mary between John Morris and Manuel Andry. At this time there was an inventory of property, including a barn, slave quarters, out buildings, a sugar mill, a United States Government Building, and a main house that was Mary, unfortunately, all archival records were destroyed by fire in the Notary’s Office. On February 26, 1826, under the notarization of Felix de Armas, Manuel Andry exchanged property to Francois Chauvin de Lery (Delery), and his wife, Marie Coutton Desilets. It is speculated that, under the ownership of the Delery family the first expansion of Mary begins. The original one room deep, West Indian style Creole house was remodeled to a straight line, pavilion roofed structure, two deep with surrounding 10 foot galleries on all four sides. The first floor of the house was of solid masonry construction with square brick columns. The second level was of cypress heavy-timber construction with brick infill. Slender chamfered cypress columns supported the roof at this level. All millwork was of cypress, and the original roof was probably of cypress shingles. An unusual of this expanded and matching door split at the front façade. According to the descendents of a later owner, Simeon Mathe, there were two exterior stairways in the Creole tradition. By an act of succession passed before the notary Charles Dutillet on June 13, 1845, Jules, son of Francois and a well known sugar planter, acquires the property. At this time an inventory of the succession defines the land, built improvements and names, ages, and skills of all slaves. On September 7, 1866, Jules delery sold the property to Simeon R. After the passing of Simeon, his wife, Mrs. Dorestine Reggio, acquired the property, and on March 4, 1911, she sold the property to Fidelity Land Company. Fidelity Land Company developed a systemic pan of house sites, farm blocks, streets and parks, which became known as the town of Dalcour. Several of these sites were sold or leased, including the home site known as Old Dalcour (Mary), having the boundaries of the property as it exists today. The land site was sold to Capital Interstate Trust and Banking Company on September 9, 1918. The town of Dalcour never becomes a viable economic entity due to the location of the new United States Nave Base on the West Bank of the Mississippi at Belle Chase. Schneider, purchased the property from Interstate Trust on January 24, 1919, and after three years, he sold the property to Rural and Urban Realty Company. A series of subsequent land exchanges took place an Mary was often abandoned and neglected. On March 24, 1945, Herbert Moffet purchased the seven acre site with the intent of demolishing the old structure and utilizing the land for a new home. Demolition cost proved to be too high, causing him to sell the house to the Knoblocks. The seven acre plantation was purchased in 1947 for $6,000.00 by Elmer ‘Eric Knoblock and his wife Marguerite. The plantation was originally purchased as a bird watching haven, with its exotic landscape and ancient mighty oaks. Eric, a nationally recognized botanist, intended to transform the landscape into an array of palm and citrus trees, along with flowers and exotic Bromeliads. The were known for their involvement with several significant preservation groups, including founding ‘Patio Planters’ in the Vieux Carre and the ‘Palm Society’, Eric, himself was one of the founders of the ‘Bromeliads Society’. Shortly after the Knoblocks purchased Mary, the decided to restore the badly decaying house, due to a growing respect for preservation. It was their intent to develop Mary into a home in which they could live, not a public landmark. They contracted a well-known local master craftsman, Carl Hithe, who displayed an incredible intuition for reconstructing old places. He began with using old materials from abandoned homes and demolition yards to maintain a certain character and style. The practice of adding and reusing materials was reflective a true Creole nature. Approximately 75% of what is visible today is part of the original construction. The galvanized roof, which originally of cypress shingles was replaced with second-hand slate to give it a weathered look. The roof timbers were structurally reinforced and the surrounding galleries were restored. However, the most significant change was the replacement of the heavy brick columns on the ground floor. Narrower molded concrete columns stand in their place, reflecting the popular taste and opinions of that time as to what constitutes Creole architecture. The idea of reusing old materials was carried through on the inside as well; antique cypress dominates the interior along with brick and slate. On the ground level the deteriorating brick floor has been covered with bricks from the Old Southern pacific Passenger Station in New Orleans, set here in a basket weave pattern, while the ceiling has been covered with twelve inch tongue and groove cypress boards. Two adjacent rooms were transferred into one, connected by and archway, creating a combination kitchen/dining room. Over the dining room table, hanging from the original iron works is a reproduction punkah used in the 18th and 19th century as a shoo-fly. A lavatory, constructed of cypress panels, was added in the first floor hallway as a modern convenience. The first floor parlor mantle has been restored, however the mantle in the dining room is missing. The upstairs floor has been replaced with a series of twelve inch planks of antique cypress in a herring bone pattern and is held in place with wooden pegs. Once again, this style of reusing old materials is reflective of that time. Two bathrooms were added with second-hand slate flooring, along with three closets. These were all constructed of cypress panels and millwork to reflect a natural finish. Antique mantles, with missing columns, have been partially restored and a cypress staircase has been added to the attic. The interior renovations further emphasized the Knoblocks’ intent, to utilize Mary as a home in which they could live. It was during Hurricane Betsy, 1969, that the Knoblocks first met John Redfield, a commander at Belle Chase Naval Base. Their friendship with John and his Concern for the preservation of Mary flourished. Having no children of their own, the Knoblocks willed Mary to John Redfield. In January of 1979, Eric passed away and Marguerite, with the help of John, continued to live and care for Mary. Marguerite was struck with an incapacitating illness in 1985, and at this time, John’s son, Tom, moved into the plantation and the two of them continued to care for the house and its beautiful landscape. Marguerite Knoblock passed away in November 1994, and today, Tom Redfield, his wife, Elissa, and their son Rawlin are keeping the Knoblocks’ dream alive by preserving Mary Plantation as their home. During the spring semester, 1995, a Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Grant was awarded to Mary Plantation, from the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Division of Historic Preservation. The project was completed under the direction of Tulane professor, Eugene D. Cizek, Ph.D., A.I.A, and a group of student architects: Sara Amorsino, Vanessa Cayette, Charles de Jesus, Vasso Elefther, Amy Gerber, Robin Komar, Charles R. Maroney, Marie Palumbo, Brian Pignanelli, Rebecca Salman, Evan Siegel, and Patrick Wood. Tulane Professor of Botany, Steven Darwin, Ph.D., and historian William de Marigny Hyland served as consultants. In the Spring of 2012, Mary was purchased by Blake Miller, a New Orleans Hotelier and is undergoing a beautiful restoration with exciting additions, including a delightful walking path through the plantation grounds and a charming wedding chapel. Mary will be available for staging weddings and events of all kinds in the Fall of 2012.
