We couldn't leave our four month old kitten out of the 18th century French colonial life. . .could we? Mr. B. J. LaShae now has his own primitive table, along with a pewter bowl and tankard. . .
I can't say he was overwhelmingly happy about the dinnerware. . .He took one look at it and his face said it all. . ."OK. . .Where's the food?"
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| Mr. B. J. LaShae |
Our B J is the resident feline of Heil House. . .when we are in town. . .He's four months old and cute as a bug. . .I discovered that we have a ghost cat, too. . .More about that later. . .
It's the holidays at Ste. Genevieve and we are learning much about the Colonial French celebrations. . .But, since we own a home built by the Germans, I thought this Santa fit right in. . .at least for this year. . .Next year we plan to be 18th century Creole French all the way. . .
Yes, Santa is in town. . .and was kind enough to bring his parade right outside our North Main Street door. . .So much candy was thrown our way by all the participants that we were still picking it up the next day. . .Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Clause. . .Won't be long now until your midnight flight begins. . .
There are many restored and vintage vehicles around town. . .but this one is our neighbor Chuck's. . .Chances are you'll find him driving around Ste. Genevieve in his pride and joy. . .Give him a smile and a wave if you do. . .
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| Henry Le Compte Home, November 1936--Photo from the Library of Congress |
While the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936 credited Henry Le Compte as builder of this home in 1818, John Henry Le Compte wasn't born until 1850 in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. His father was Eloy LeCompte, who was born in 1807 in Illinois but moved to Ste. Genevieve sometime later. It may well be that Eloy built the house in 1832, as stated in The Commandant's Last Ride by Mark L. Evans, with John Henry becoming the owner at a later date. The survey reported their findings from Fair Play (newspaper) and didn't research for the facts. Much of the history in Ste. Genevieve is confusing and bears the need for more research.
It appears from Ancestry that the Le Comte (Le Compte) family moved to Quebec, Canada sometime after 1679, from Ste. Malo, France, moving to Montreal, Canada by 1718. If you have any other information, please feel free to add it in the comment section.
The LeCompte Home is only one block from us at 231 N. Main Street. It no longer has the two porches. They were removed in 1940. It was built in the Anglo-American style, utilizing limestone from the Mississippi River bluffs. The house was damaged by a fire sometime in the 20th century. The roof line was changed from the original at that time.
Historic American Buildings Survey Mo.
District of Missouri
This house located in Ste• Genevieve, Mo*, was built in the year 1818 by Henry LeCompte, old French settler of Ste* Genevieve, Mo, In the flood of 1844 the waters of the Mississippi came up and covered the front porch. The first mill in Ste. Genevieve County was erected on the grounds adjoining this house.
This is a three story rectangular house of stone. Two story front porch across the front surmounted "by three large dormers. Sliding windows, have large upper sash divided into 9 lights small lower sash into 6 lights.
Information; Fair Play.
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| Side View of Henry Le Compte Home, November 1936--Library of Congress |
Addendum to Le Compte House 2S " HABS No. MO-1125
Location; Ste. Genevieve, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri
Historical and Architectural Information
The following information was recorded by Alexander Piaget and Charles van Ravenswaay at the time the photograph was taken:
Building remodeled in 1939/ front gallery removed, and interior corner mantels taken out.
Project Information
The Piaget-van Ravenswaay Survey consists of a number of photographs, primarily of sites and structures in Missouri, which were taken before 1938 by Alexander Piaget ana after that by Paul Piaget, both in conjunction with Charles van Ravenswaay. Photographs of buildings were incorporated into the HABS collection in 1985 by Laura Rupp and in 1986 by Deborah Fulton, HABS historians. A master list is available in the 0W records for MG-180 0.
From Ancestry. com: This has not been verified. Taken from the LeCompte Family TreePierre Le Comte b. 1656 d. 18 May 1759Pierre Le Comte b. 2 Feb 1679 St. Malo, France d. LesCedres, Quebec, CanadaPierre Laurent LeComte LaFleur b. 2 Mar 1718 Montreal, Canada d. CanadaLouis Le Comte b. abt 1750 d. Cahokia, IllPierre Le Comte b. 1797 d. 24 Mar 1837 IllEloy LeCompte b. 1807 Ill d. 9 Feb 1890 Ste. Genevieve, Mo buried: Valle Springs Cemetery1860-1870 Federal Census, Eloy was living in Ste. Genevieve and working as a clerk
1880 Federal Census, Eloy has moved to St. Louis, Mo
States his father was from Canada and him mother was from Illinois
John Henry LeCompte b. 1850 Ste. Genevieve, Mo d. 30 Apr 1931 St. Louis, Mo
1870 Federal Census, Henry was living in Ste. Genevieve, Mo
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| Photo taken at: Sassafras Creek Originals, St. Mary's Road |
Colonial games and cards were popular in New France as well as in the British colonies. . .The fun-loving French hunters and trappers spent many a day around tables such as this. . .smoking their clay pipes. . .drinking their wine. . .wagering money from the sale of their pelts. . .and often losing a pocketful of coins. . .No problem. . .There were plenty more animals to trap. . .C'est la vie. . .(That's Life)
One of my favorite, and sometimes daily, stops is the Ste. Genevieve Post Office. It's only a couple of blocks from our home on Main Street. . .The first time I visited it, I loved the old wood and brass of the interior. . .Then I gazed up. . .in awe. . .There, up high for all to see, was a mural painted by Martyl Schweig in 1942 as a WPA project. . .Named "La Guignolee," it depicts a New Year's celebration in colonial Ste. Genevieve. . .when the Canadian French and Creole dominated the territory in the 18th century. . .
The French came to hunt and trap, and maybe do a little farming, but what they liked best was to celebrate and dance. . .Any occasion gave them an excuse to do so. . .They were a colorful bunch who seemed to have loved life. . .and that is exactly why I love to look at the mural. . .It is beautifully painted, but more than that, it reminds me to lighten up and enjoy life myself. . .Put a smile on my face and maybe dance a little along the way. . .Such a unique town. . .
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| Duncan Photo 2018 |
The 18th century house I spied that first visit to Ste. Genevieve County was located on North Highway 61, just a few miles from the town of Ste. Genevieve. Little did I know that it played an important part in early colonial history, when the Spanish owned the huge territory of Louisiana but for the most part, it was the French who still lived in the area and were appointed by the Spanish government to run their affairs.
The Delassus family was of particular interest to me because they would enter into my own ancestral history when Pierre’s son Charles became commandant of New Madrid in 1794.
I became more interested in the history of the house each time we drove by it on our way to St. Mary and our favorite antique mall. After much research on the net, I stumbled upon this document in the Library of Congress website, along with the photos and drawings in this post. It answered one of my main questions: How is an I-house style plan French architecture? It looked more Colonial America than Colonial France. I now know the answer. . .but you will have to read on. . .Note: I have copied much of the report but rearranged the order of some descriptions for easier reading.
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| Library of Congress Photo |
From the Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS No. MO-1283. . .
The builder, Pierre Delassus de Luziere was Grand Chevalier of the Cross of the Royal Order of St. Michel. He, his wife Domitille Joseph Dumont de Bequfort, and their children left France in 1790 because of the Revolution. After they acquired land in the Ste. Genevieve district in 1793 and their house was completed, the family was warmly welcomed by the community. They became prominent residents of the territory. Pierre was made Commandant of New Bourbon, then a rival settlement near Ste. Genevieve, and their son Charles became Lieutenant Governor of upper Louisiana in St. Louis. The original plan of their house, the largest in the region, is fully preserved.
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| Library of CongressPhoto |
Pierre Charles Dehault Delassus De Luziere had begun negotiations for a land concession in the Ste. Genevieve district. Probably shortly after and definitely before August 24 of that year, he had arrived in the community convalescing from some illness. His new house was finished about the end of October, just about the time his family joined him. Tree-ring analysis confirms the date, and confirms that the present house is the one discussed in documents of 1793.
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| Library of Congress Photo--Side View |
November 25, 1798, by land concession of Zenon Trudeau, lieutenant governor, conceded claim of 810 arpents (including 310 on which is the house)to Pierre Charles Dehault Delassus Deluziere; June 28, 1806, by testimony of Israel Dodge that in 1798 claimant built a cabin on the tract {310 arpents) which was constantly inhabited by a free black woman. American State Papers, Volume 5, page 4 67 is the source for both references.Volume 3, page 300 confirms the claim and concession.b. February 4, 1819, deed of partition from PierreCharles Dehault Delassus Deluziere deceased via executrix Marie Philipe Leduc to Charles DehaultDelassus for $408.00 (310 arpents at $1.60arpent). Deed Book C, page 166-168.c. February 5, 1819, from Charles Dehault Delassus to Odile Delassus et al.
This house is built of vertical log construction on a stone foundation (poteaux sur sole) and is larger than any of the known French colonial houses in the region of Ste. Genevieve, a National Historic Landmark Historic District….The original plans and construction was a one story, six room plan. About 1898-1900 a second floor was added above the three front rooms and the house lost its original French roof. Chimneys, closets, and a bathroom were added; the staircase was moved.
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| Library of Congress Photo--Rear View |
The six room plan is one of the best preserved plans of the largest house type used in French colonial Ste. Genevieve, with a large central room of mixed use flanked by two smaller rooms to either side across the front, and a similar combination of three rooms, but not as deep across the rear. It is a plan type known in Louisiana and northwestern France.A view of the house c. 1894-95 before the second story was added is in the possession of the(1985)owners, August and Shirley Kern.
The Architecture:Over-all dimensions: Two stories on elevated cellar, 62'-6" across the front by 44f-8n deep.
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| Library of Congress Photo--Basement with Winepress |
Foundations: Random cut stone.
Walls: Vertical, hewn, white oak logs, mortised into a sill, infilled with bouzillage, plastered or sheathed with horizontal clapboards.
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| Library of Congress Photo |
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| Library of Congress Photo |
Structural system, framing: Vertical logstructure on a sill carrying a plate, hewn logs closely spaced, floor beams mortised into the sill and the plate.Porches: Some evidence of a French colonial stylegallery survives at the front of the house. Two sides of the house (the front and southeast)feature a covered porch.Chimneys: Four stove chimneys with limestone pierfoundation are later additions. No fireplaces survived, however the foundation reveals there were two original chimneys, each carrying a fireplace at either end (northwest and southeast) of the house.Openings: Principal entrances at the center ofboth long sides open into the largest room at thecenter of the house. Separate entrances under theporch on the southeast side and front of the house also lead into the cellar. A. Doorways and doors: probably date from the remodeling of c. 1898-1900. B. Windows and shutters: Double hung, with later two light sash.Roof: a. Shape, covering: A gable roof with metalcovering. b. Cornice, eaves: simple boxed eaves.First floor: This six room plan is one ofthe best preserved plans of the largest house type used in French colonial Ste. Genevieve, with a large central room of mixed use flanked by twosmaller rooms to either side across the front, and a similar combination of three rooms, but not as deep across the rear. It is a plan type known in Louisiana and northwestern France.Cellar: unfinished cellar under the front half ofthe house. The lot slopes down toward the front,putting the cellar nearly at ground level underthe front porch.Attic: A second floor with bedrooms was addedover the front portion of the house c. 1898-1900.Stairways: The present boxed stairway is an addition from the 1898-1900 remodeling.Flooring: wood.Wall and ceiling finish: plaster.Doorways and doors: wood paneled doors probablydate to the c. 1898-1900 remodeling.Windows: double hung windows in simple woodframes probably date to the c. 1898-1900remodeling.Heating: modern gas room heaters, connected toexisting brick chimneys.Lighting and plumbing are modern additions.General setting and orientation: The house facesnortheast towards the common field and the site of the original settlement of Ste. Genevieve. On the bluffs behind it is the settlement of New Bourbon,Historic landscape design: A mixture of silvermaple, elm, and pecan trees shade the area while a box elder and walnut tree are also on the premises.Outbuildings: The house has always been thecenter piece of a large farming establishment and many outbuildings and features survive around it, mostly built by earlier generations of the Kern family. A well, cistern, wood shed, utility shed, corn crib and two chicken houses exist while the location of a former hog house, barn, chicken houses, privy and smoke house have been determined.
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| Library of Congress Photo |
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| Library of Congress Photo--Cistern |
Original and Subsequent Owners: Legal description:Survey no. 2082Chain of title:a. November 25, 1798, by land concession of ZenonTrudeau, lientenant governor, conceded claim of810 arpents (including 310 on which is the house)to Pierre Charles Dehault Delassus Deluziere; June 28, 1806, by testimony of Israel Dodge that in 1798 claimant built a cabin on the tract {310arpents) which was constantly inhabited by a freeblack woman. American State Papers, Volume 5,page 4 67 is the source for both references.Volume 3, page 300 confirms the claim andconcession.b. February 4, 1819, deed of partition from PierreCharles Dehault Delassus Deluziere deceased viaexecutrix Marie Philipe Leduc to Charles DehaultDelassus for $408.00 (310 arpents at $1.60arpent). Deed Book C, page 166-168.c. February 5, 1819, from Charles DehaultDelassus to Odile Delassus et al. Deed book C,page 168-169.d. April 10, 1834, by deed of partition, betweenOdile Delassus, widow of Louis Valle, and heirsand representatives of Camille Delassus, deceased: Eleanore Delassus, Leon Delassus, and Martin Sweet. Odile drew the lot on which the house stands. Deed book E, pages 71-72.e. March 8, 1836, by general warranty deed from Peter R. Pratt and Louise and heirs, legalrepresentatives of Camille Delassus to MartinSweet for $200. Deed book E, pages 8-10.f. July 5, 1837 by general warranty deed from Martin Sweet and wife Caroline to Ichabod Sargent for $1,200.00. Deed book E, page 124.g. September 18, 1848 (probate date) by will ofIchabod Sargent written August 29, 1848 to AustesSargent, wife. Deed book H, page 118.h. July 26, 1855 from Ichobod Sargent, deceased by Executor Jules Valle to John D. Kern for $1,000. Deed book I, page 5 86.i. July 26, 1855 by deed of trust from John D. Kern and Regina to Felix St. James and Jules Valle. Deed book I, page 587.i. April 30, 1861 by deed of trust from John D. Kern and Regina to Relix Rozier and Francis C. Rozier.Deed book O, page 42 3.j. September 28, 1875 from Regina Kern, HermanKoehler and Mary, Julia M. D. Kern heirs and legal representatives of John D. Kern deceased toEdward, William, August Kern for $2,000. Deedbook 26, page 469.k. November 9, 1878 by general warranty deed fromKern heirs by sheriff to William Kern et al. Deedbook 30, page 458.1. December 16, 1878 by general warranty deed from William Kern to August Kern for $1,000.00. Deedbook 27, page 394.m. October 31, 1955 by general warranty deed fromNettie Kern, Rachel Kern, and Edna Kern to AugustW. Kern and Shirley Kern, his wife. All that partof Survey Number 2082 and part of fractionalSection Two in Township 37 North Range East whichis described as follows to wit: Beginning at thenortheast corner of Survey Number 451 and runningsouth 18 degrees east 2.92 chains to a corner inthe north line of a 124.25 acre parcel known asthe Rozier tract. Thence, with said line, north72 degrees 15 minutes, east 4.7 chains to theplace of the beginning containing 6.25 acres.Above described parcel being a part of same 64.06acre parcel as is described in book 27, page 394,Ste. Genevieve land records.n. August 7, 1961 by quit claim from Nettie, Rachel, and Edna Kern to August W. Kern and Shirley M. Kern. Deed book 156, page 271.o. November 16, 1961 by will of August Kern written June 1931 to daughters Rachel, Nettie and Edna. Deed book 160, page 361.
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| Library of Congresss Photo--1985 |
