The house was originally three Creole cottages owned by James Bowie and his brother Rezin in the late 1820s, later pulled together and raised, and put into its present configuration in 1875. It was formerly listed on the National Register of Historic Places but has recently been removed (by whom and why, I don't know). Members of my family owned Acadia from 1872 until its sale in 2003. My brother David and I grew up in the plantation house, and our father lived there from 1940 until his death in 2004. Normally I'm not sentimental about the destruction of old houses, since change is the nature of the universe, but this one has moved me deeply.
12 comments:
Ormonde, I'm sad about the demolition of the house. I can only imagine how you feel. "Progress" marches on.
Something drives the demolition; just wait and see what takes its place. What I don't understand is why there hasn't been an uproar in the community.
Ormonde, I don't find that the people in Thibodaux are civic minded, nor do they care much about history. There are exceptions, of course, but not enough to put a stop to such destruction of our heritage.
Devastating.
That's very sad.
As an historian, it always makes me ill when anything historic is destroyed. This is particularly sad. Prayers for those who loved this place and for those in our day who are saddened by its destruction.
DeeDee DiBenedetto, the Baton Rouge genealogist and historian, asked me to post the following in her name:
"Owning historical property, especially a historic home in a community, makes the owner a part of the community. Note the root word commune. Just as your right to swing your fist ends when you threaten to swing it into my nose, a property owner’s right to do as he pleases with his historical property ends when it threatens the history of the community. Historical preservation areas preserve a look and feel of a community, and the owners in these areas should consider the entire community."
Dee Dee is right. Do you think she'd mind if I added her words to my post on the demolition? Too late for Acadia, but perhaps a cautionary word for other historic properties?
I find that posts like yours and mine on the demolition continue to be visited over time.
I think DeeDee would be delighted to have her post circulated.
I am surprised that everyone is so surprised! Doesn't one expect a new owner to make changes? Why did someone not keep the house in the family to avoid this?
Mr. Plater,
I am so saddened to see this. I had no idea since I no longer live in the area. I just happened to find this as I was searching for a picture of the house to show my fourth graders some of my history as a child. My mother. Ann, worked for Mr. David as a secretary for many years. I use to go there after school and Mrs. Ethel would always have some of those molasses cookies made. I attended David's daughter's wedding that was held at the house on the front lawn. I always tell my children about playing in the gigantic oak trees and how the limbs would sometimes drag the ground as if they were a tree growing. I can still remeber playing in that old house like it was yesterday.
I could not believe that the house where I spent much of my time as a 6 year old... the place where I fell off the four poster bed and broke my toe, where my uncle Dick lovingly liberated my eyes from chewing gum and where family gathering seemed to go on for ever..., does no longer exist!! I am deeply saddened!
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