The Hermann-Grima House March 31, 2008

Click HERE for the article on the WWL website.

Click HERE for the video about the house from the WWL morning show.

French Quarter architecture is not limited to one style or period, but instead, is a working timetable of foreign influences and architectural trends. Understandably, French and Spanish styles are most prominent; however, a classic Federal-style building can be found at 820 St. Louis Street.

The American influenced residence is the Hermann-Grima house, constructed in 1831 by architect and builder William Brand. Originally built for Samuel Hermann Sr., the house only stayed in his family until it was sold to Felix Grima in 1844. Grima, a local judge and civic leader, purchased the property from a financially struggling Hermann and it stayed in his family until 1921.

The Georgian, or Federal-style building, is a prime example of American-style architecture that had become increasingly popular in the eastern United States. Brand was probably most comfortable building in the Federal style since it was the common design in his native Virginia at the time.

Details of the style include the symmetrical façade, double hung windows, ornate central entryway, center hallway and white granite lintels above the windows. The house also is slightly raised above grade, which was not a local building tradition.

The building is constructed of hard brick from Philadelphia – which lasted longer and had a lighter color than soft local brick – which were laid in a Flemish bond a process when the course of bricks is laid in an alternating pattern of headers (short side of the brick) and stretchers (long side of the brick). This creates a symmetrical appearance that is also sturdy.

The façade of the house was stuccoed over and painted to simulate the bonds underneath. This practice served to strengthen and protect the brick, although it was probably unnecessary due to the strength of the expensive imported bricks.

Although the Hermann-Grima house is the best example of American architecture in the French Quarter, like most things built locally, it was slightly adapted to reflect neighborhood traditions. For instance, the balconies on the front and rear of the house were added during construction, clearly reflecting the local influence. If this house had been built outside the Gulf Coast, perhaps it would have stayed a more traditional Federal design.

The plan of the house is also American rather than French Creole or Spanish except for the recessed rear gallery flanked by the two small rooms known locally as cabinets. The central hall with private rooms to each side is a purely American design. American builders began to see private rooms as the most useful, while shared common rooms started to become less practical. Benjamin Latrobe, an influential British born American architect, predicted that this American style would soon become the standard practice and overshadow the older European designs.

The rear courtyard is expansive, including a three-story outbuilding, stable, and kitchen. The kitchen is still in operation and is used on occasion during tours. The flagstone-paved courtyard has been restored to its 1831 configuration. This important open space not only serves as a walkway to the surrounding estate buildings, but also as a relaxing outdoor living area.

The original raised flowerbeds (parterres) are still in place and are filled with roses and citrus plants. This particular flora was chosen to match the original plantings documented by the Hermann family. The tradition of planting flowers and trees with a heavy sweet fragrance was intentional and dates back to the early courtyards of Europe and Asia.

Another important feature of the courtyard is a replica of the original cast iron cistern. This was installed in 1831 and replaced the pre-existing well, which is still present underneath the flagstone paving in the center of the courtyard. At the time most cisterns were made of local cypress, so this particular type was especially rare. The cistern disappeared around the time of the Second World War, but a replication of the original was installed in 1973.

The property stayed in the Grima family and was used as a private residence until the Christian Woman’s Exchange purchased it in 1924. From 1831 to 1921, the only time the house was not used as a private residence was during the Civil War. After New Orleans fell in 1862, Federal soldiers used the house for quartering.

The Christian Woman’s Exchange (CWE) began using the property as a consignment shop and rented rooms to women who wanted to live in a safe and chaperoned environment. Their mission was to help provide women in need the means to earn a living.

The CWE changed directions and opened the property as a house museum in 1965. This was progressive for the time because the concept of house museums had not fully developed in the Unites States. Under the direction of Samuel Wilson Jr. in 1975, the house was restored to the period of construction. Today, the CWE still operates the Hermann-Grima house and offers tours of the property to the public.