It was the summer home of the de la Vergne family of New Orleans, a family that included military officers, bankers, elected officials and prominent lawyers. They are considered one of the founding families of New Orleans, having first arrived from France in 1767.
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According to the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, the original house structure was built in the late 18th century, sometime in the 1780's, on a portion of the 640 acre Spanish land grant to Santiago Jacques Lorreins, As patriarch of one of Louisiana's founding families. "Lorreins also built what is now known as The Old Spanish Customs House" on Bayou St. John In. New Orleans, and he once owned a plantation that is now the site of City Park in New Orleans. Following his death in 1784, this property remained In the Lorreins Family for several generations before being sold in the 1840s.
"A later owner was the prominent steamboat captain, John Smoker. Originally from Lancaster. Pennsylvania, Captain Smoker was known for his exceptional leadership in navigating a regular route between New Orleans and Shreveport.
"In 1898, Colonel Hugh Jules de la Vergne purchased the property as a summer home for his family and friends to enjoy. The de la Vergne Family made several additions to the original house. including a tower, dormers and many garden features. Artisan wells fed a series of decorative fountains, a wishing well, large swimming pool and a series of small waterfalls that wind downhill to the Bogue Falaya. Colonel de to Vergne was a prominent attorney in New Orleans and the family hosted many social events at their villa.
"The house sits on a commanding high bluff of a peninsula, bound by the Bogue Falaya and Abita Rivers. Back in 1819, it was a short walk .from the courthouse and jail then located in the town of Claiborne."
(From the Louisiana Digital Collection)
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Louis de la Vergne took me on a tour of it one time. This was back when he was fighting with the parish, trying to keep his private drive in front from being used by the public to get to other homes past his. He told me there used to be a bridge over the Abita River that those other property owners used to access their properties, but the bridge fell down and he let them use his private driveway "temporarily." Well, that became permanent when the bridge wasn't replaced.
