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Downtown Tour

77. J.J. Bowden Home, 1857

420 E. Bellevue Street Built by Antoine Christman for his wife, the former Malvina Bengueral, the home later became occupied by Fannie Bowden and then her nephew, Rev. Walter Bowden. Built of cypress, it is an Acadian Cottage style home with cypress doors and a cypress mantle. It also features pine floors. The ceilings are …

April 9, 1857

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47. Old Ray Homestead, 1853

346 W. Bellevue Street Dr. James Ray built this one and one-half story plantation style home for his bride, Margaret Mitchell Hill, daughter of Dr. George Hill, a surgeon and scientific sugar planter of that era. During the Civil War, in March of 1862, the Confederate Army used the home as the 9th Brigade Medical …

April 9, 1853

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12. 19th Century Law Office, c.1845

129 W. Landry Street This one-story Greek Revival law office is constructed of Louisiana cypress. It was sold on October 10, 1850, by George King, the first judge of the Parish of St. Landry, to Lucius Dupré, who occupied the building during the late-19th century. Through the years, it has been used as a law …

April 9, 1845

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65. Brick Sidewalks, c. 1830s

East Grolee Street This section of brick sidewalks date back to 1838. The bricks and those on Court and Bellevue streets, are the only original brick sidewalks still existing in Opelousas.

April 9, 1830

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49. Labyche-Estorge Home, 1827

417 S. Market Street Built by slave labor for Cahors, France native Pierre Labyche, this Antebellum home, exemplifies the transition from the area’s popular Creole architecture to Greek Revival. Constructed of cypress and handmade red brick, it features beautifully hand-painted ceilings. Pierre Labyche married the widow of Jean Estorge, Marie Theresa

April 9, 1827

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54. Marguerite Chretien (Lacombe Home), 1821

124 W. Grolee Street One of the oldest home in Opelousas, Etienne Fouillade built this French Creole house for Marguerite Chretien in 1821. Constructed of cypress over mud and moss walls, the original contract for the home is on file in the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court’s Office and is the oldest contract found …

April 9, 1821

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60. Wier Building, c. 1820

106 N. Union Street Significant in the area of architecture as one of St. Landry Parish’s very earliest buildings and a rare example of the Federal style in the parih, this house is also called the Hebrard Home. In 1945, Harvey J. Wier purchased the building for use as an office. In 1995, the building …

April 9, 1820

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