St. Martin Parish Courthouse

On November 6, 1983, Friends of La Maison Duchamp hosted a tour of the St. Martin Parish Courthouse. Suzanne Barras Durand created an informational sheet for the tour, and a transcription of that document is presented below.

St. Martin Parish Courthouse in 1949

NATIONAL REGISTER BUILDINGS AND HISTORIC DISTRICT TOUR

sponsored by
FRIENDS OF LA MAISON DUCHAMP, INC.

November 6, 1983

St. Martin Parish Courthouse
St. Martinville, Louisiana

Prepared by
Suzanne Barras Durand
For Special Courthouse Tour

Welcome to St. Martin Parish, to St. Martinville, the seat of our parish government, and to the St. Martin Parish Courthouse.

The history of St. Martin Parish actually dates from the establishment 1n 1756 by the French government of the “Postes des Attakapas.” In 1807, when Louisiana was divided into nineteen parishes, St. Martin Parish formed the nineteenth. The parish at that time included the present parishes of St. Martin, St. Mary, Lafayette, Vermilion and Iberia. In 1811, St. Mary Parish was created. Lafayette Parish was created in 1823 and subsequently sub-divided to form Vermilion and Lafayette Parishes in 1844. In 1868, Iberia Parish was created.

From 1868 to the present, St. Martin Parish has remained virtually unchanged—but a very unique parish. St. Martin Parish is divided by an arm of Ibería Parish into the upper portion of the Parish and the lower portion of the Parish. The upper portion consists of the communities of St. Martinvílle, Breaux Bridge, Parks, Henderson and a portion of Arnaudville. The lower portion, which borders the East Atchafalaya Basin Levee, consists of the unincorporated areas of Stephensville and Belle River.

The St. Martin Parish Courthouse, which was placed on the National Register on November 19, 1981, is significant as one of the few examples of a complete temple form of Greek Revival building in Louisiana. It has served as the seat of parish government since its construction in 1859. The subsequent wing additions in 1937 sere added in a sensitive manner, borrowing the existing details and rhythm and translating them through the Beaux-Arts style of Architecture. In 1955 and 1960 other major expansions were completed to the rear of the building; still preserving the original front of the building.

On entering the foyer of the Courthouse plaques are located on either side. The plaque on the left (north side) identifies the members of the Jury responsible for the renovations done in 1917. The plaque on the right (south side) lists the countries which governed this area from 1756 until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Below is shown the design in the foyer of the Courthouse and the designated marble as shown on the 1936 floor plans. Please note that the choice of the “owners” for the center design features a replica of Evangeline and the Oak.

X — Bronze plaque by Owners

A — Premier Red Formosa

B — Jaune de Brignelles

C — Premier Red Formosa
D — Gray Tennessee

E — Premíer Rolo Alcicante

Proceeding toward the office of the Clerk of Court in the Center of the Courthouse, we find above the door another marker or plaque. This plaque designates the reconstruction done in the 1936-37 renovation when the wings were added and the rear of the building extended. The vault doors through which one enters the Clerk of Court's office were installed in 1889 and were purchased in Dallas at a cost of $4000.00. Prior to the purchase of the vault doors, reference is found in the Jury minutes of the purchase of tin boxes to preserve the Parish records.

The Clerk of Court and his staff will be in the office to answer any questions you may have. They have on display for your viewing many of the old records, including a unique register of cattle brands which dates back to 1737; French and Spanish records, marriage licenses, etc. Please enjoy your tour through this office and feel free to ask questions of staff members present.

In leaving the Clerk of Court's Office to continue your tour to the Courtroom upstairs, we would like to call your attention to the white Alabama marble wainscot and verte antique baseboard, part of the 1937 renovation. As you ascend to the second floor, please note the wrought iron stair rail, the built up mahogany hand rail and the continued use of the white Alabama marble wainscoting and verte antique marble base.

Please proceed to the Courtroom where Judges of the Sixteenth Judicial District are waiting to greet you. The Courtroom was originally 36 x 40 and contained a balcony for on-lookers. In 1937 it was “enlarged” to 56 x 40 and again enlarged in 1955. Outside the Courtroom, please noțe the display cabinet on the wall. We have on display a measured drawing of the existing Courthouse done June 17, 1936 in preparation for the plans for the proposed extension to the back of the courthouse and the addition of the north and south wings.

On the table in the hall is displayed the older minute books of the St. Martin Parish Police Jury. Minute Book “B” dates from March, 1843 to December 1854. In the final minutes of this book on page 200, we find the Resolution to appropriate funds for the new Courthouse. These minutes are both in French and in English. We have been unable to find minute book “A”. No records are found from December 1854 until July 5, 1886. All minutes are intact from July 5,1886 to the present. We have also displayed some listings of various officials in the Parish and the terms of office served.

While up-stairs please notice the doors opening on the balcony which overlooks the front of the building. Reference to this balcony was found in a local newspaper dated September 28, 1889 in an article which states that “a door was cut in the front hall of the upper story of the courthouse to facilitate the Sheriff in calling the names of jurors and witnesses which he can now do without coming down the stairs.” In researching the minutes of the Police Jury we find in the meeting of the Jury held September 2, 1889 the authorization of the cutting of the balcony. The motion in regard to the balcony also states that “such repairs be made to properly close said Courthouse. Thereafter cake, Gombo (sic), coffee or other stands will be prohibited on the square of the Courthouse. The Sheriff is requested to have same removed whenever put up.”

As you leave the Courthouse, please turn back for one last look at this historic building which houses such old and valuable records, and look at the balcony on the second floor. In the wrought iron enclosing the balcony you will see the S T and M signifying St. Martin.

On the square of the Courthouse, please note the lights on either side of the front walk. In the Weekly Messenger (local newspaper) dated July 3, 1915 we find the following article: “The ladies of the Civic League have erected this week on the Courthouse ground, two iron columns with five electric lights on each, the clusters are beautiful and are quite an improvement to the square.”

We would like to mention at this point that on August l, 1983, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Office of Culture Development of the State of Louisiana granted a $25,000.00 amount for the restoration of exterior surfaces for the St. Martin Parish Courthouse. This grant will be combined with $57,000.00 appropriated by the St. Martin Parish Police Jury to institute the exterior renovations. The exterior work will encompass the cleaning, repainting and caulking of all exterior surfaces. The bids for this work were received on November 3, 1983 and the needed restoration will commence shortly, with completion in the early part of 1984.

In conjunction with the grant funds, it was stipulated that the Courthouse be restored to its original color, and that microscopic paint analysis be done to arrive at these original colors. Mr. George Fore, Architectural Conservator with Building Preservation Consultants in Raleigh, North Carolina was hired by the St. Martin Parish Police Jury to do the paint analysis. On September 16, 1983 Mr. Fore took paint samples from various areas on the building As many as twelve layers of paint were found in some instances. His final analysis and recommendation for the repainting of the Courthouse to match as closely as possible the original colors are as follows:

Cornice and pediments, door and windows surrounds: rose

All stucco; columns, capitals and bases: stone color

Sash: cream color

Doors: white oak graining

Lintels and sills of the windows are of granite and have been painted over. It is recommended that these be cleaned and re-exposed as originally intended.

We hope you have enjoyed your tour of the Courthouse. Please return for the Spring Tour to view our newly restored exterior of the Building.