Page 111 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

GARDEN DISTRIC T AND UPT OWN  109

a morning glory and cornstalk Musson (1812–85), a successful support the galleries. The
motif, encloses the gardens (see and prominent Creole cotton second owners of the
pp40–41). The story goes that merchant and the New Orleans pro perty, the Clapp family,
the Colonel had it installed to postmaster (see p128). Musson added the hexagonal wing
please his wife. Unlike a similar had close ties with his extended in 1869. The gardens are
fence on Royal Street in the family, including his sister splendid and feature some
French Quarter (see p79), famous Celestine Musson Degas, who stunning camellias.
for its detailed ironwork, this lived in France. Celestine’s son, Anne Rice, who was born
one has not been painted and Edgar Degas, was to become in New Orleans and grew
shows its original colors. In one of the world’s great artists up in the Irish Channel, has
September 1863, the Union and a founder of the portrayed the city in many
troops seized the residence. It Impressionist movement. of her best selling Vampire
was returned to the family after After the Civil War, Degas Chronicles, which began with
the Civil War (see pp20–21). came to visit Louisiana but it the Interview with the Vampire,
Although closed to the public, is unlikely he ever saw this published in 1976. She and her
the famous cornstalk fence is house. The war had dealt husband, poet-scholar Stan
much visited. Musson’s fortunes a severe Rice, returned to New Orleans
blow and he sold the house in from San Francisco in 1988.
1869, moving his family to a Rice used this house as the
rented house on Esplanade setting for her book The
Avenue (see p128). Witching Hour (1990). Rice
spent her teenage years at
e Brevard-Wisdom- 2524 St. Charles Avenue,
which inspired much of her
Rice House novel Violin. The author has
restored several historic
1239 First St. Map 8 A3.
v St. Charles. @ 11, 14, 27. buildings. After Stan died in
Closed to the public. 2003, Anne began to sell
her New Orleans properties.
Fans of the Gothic author
Anne Rice stop to gawk at r Payne-Strachan
the Brevard-Wisdom-Rice
House, where she lived from House
The famed cornstalk fence at Colonel 1989 to 2003. The house was 1134 First St. Map 8 A3.
Short’s Villa designed by James Calrow v St. Charles. @ 11, 14, 27.
for merchant Albert Hamilton Closed to the public.
w Musson-Bell Brevard in 1857 and cost This grand home was built in
$13,000, at the time a
House formidable sum. It is adorned the 1850s by Judge Jacob U.
with ornate ironwork, Payne, who brought slaves
1331 Third St. Map 8 A3.
v St. Charles. @ 11, 14, 27. including a fence incorpo- from his plantation in Kentucky
Closed to the public. rating a charming rose motif, and had them construct it.
for which reason the house The two-story Greek Revival
This handsome Italianate villa is referred to as “Rosegate.” residence features Ionic
was built in 1853 for Michel Ionic and Corinthian columns columns on the first gallery
and Corinthian on the second.
The house passed to Payne’s
son-in-law, Charles Erasmus
Fenner, a close friend of
Jefferson Davis, United States
senator and president of the
Confederacy (see pp98–9).
Davis died here on December
6, 1889, in the first-floor
guest room.
A striking aspect of the
house is the sky-blue ceiling
in the gallery, the color having
been chosen in the belief that
it would keep winged insects
from nesting there and also
ward off evil spirits. In fact, many
homes in the neighbor hood
Musson-Bell House, in the Italianate style adhere to this superstition.
Oak trees in the scenic Audubon Park

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