I have made what has turned out to be a very interesting addition to Exploring New Orleans Architecture. The styles that have become such an iconic part of New Orleans can have some interesting differences among the structures they are found on. One example is the ironwork.
Usually, I'm used to seeing ornate floral patterns and fleur de lis, but one house has expressed its individuality in a pretty detailed way. From the image above, you have probably guessed that I'm talking about Colonel Short's Villa, also widely known as the "Cornstalk Fence House".
Built in 1859 for Colonel Robert Short, the house was designed by Henry Howard, who also designed the mansions at Nottoway and Belle Grove plantations in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. Its history includes being confiscated and used as the executive mansion of the federal governor during the Civil War. Colonel Short's home was returned to him following the war, and he lived out the rest of his life there.
Like any other home of this description in New Orleans, renovation and restoration has become necessary over the whole of its existence. It underwent a 10 year renovation started by the owners who had purchased the house in 1994. They would later sell the house, and as of 2021, the house was owned by manager and producer Scott Rodger.
The difference in the appearance of the parlor between 2016 and 2021 is so different that I just HAD to show the difference. Just from what I have found so far, it reminded me that I've been meaning to dig deeper into the history of the Garden District and the splitting into contracts land now formerly belonging to Livaudais Plantation.
Henry Howard was the architect to design Colonel Short's Villa, and, as stated, both Nottoway and Belle Grove plantation mansions in Iberville Parish. One thing stands out when it comes to Belle Grove, however. There is mention here and there that a second architect might also have been involved in the design of Belle Grove--James Gallier, the man whose house still stands in the French Quarter today and was used as Lestat's townhouse in the AMC series, Interview With the Vampire...
Which is interesting considering what the interior of the Cornstalk Fence House looked like as of 2021...
If you love the image above (I know I do!), you can see it and more by Alexey Sergeev on his website.