John sent me this information via email for me to share. As usual, John is doing a lot of work for our area's history and culture. Thank you John!
LOUISIANA CREOLE CULTURAL NEWSFLASH: Our Historic Architecture & Lifestyle by John laFleur II, Copyright 2014
"Gabled roofs and 'maisons de quatre faces' (hipped roofs) were among the several Louisiana Creole styles of architecture...which once dotted the prairies, river and bayou communities from their earliest North American beginnings.
From Illinois to Missouri to Mobile, to Biloxi and Bay St. Louis onward to New Orleans to St. Charles and all along River Road to Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, Iberia, Acadia, Avoyelles & to Natchitoches Parishes Creole architectural treasures and 'vestiges of the past' abound. Many of these homes, restored or in ruins, feature board & baton or louvered shutters, wrought iron hardware door latches, locks & strap hinging and balconied cottages with chimneys and half-timbered walls of 'bousillage' (mud, moss & horse hair in-fill) and shipboard planking, with horizontal ribbons of 'chair rail' all testify silently to a world and culture, as foreign as her language remains to both American and much of the European world.
It is this forgotten world of Louisiana's multi-ethnic, metis & creole people; a world almost forgotten, if known at all, by her/our younger generations today which gave Louisiana her distinctive and exotic character; a culture which continues to enchant locals and foreigner alike, upon their discovery.
Creole homes also had little courtyards of split-Cypress picket fencing to prevent animals from entering onto the front galleries and into these homes. In these gardens, which could surround the entire house-front and back-sometimes, grew flower & fine herb gardens, along with orange & lemon trees. Sometimes, these gardens were formal, reflecting the French style of the court back in France; sometime, they were "in English style" or informal.
Poulailliers (hen houses) were found in the back of these houses within their own enclosures. Pigeonnieres (dovecotes) on the other hand, were elegant tall and narrow buildings reminiscent of watchtowers flanking medieval castles or chateaux.
However, these front property towers housed squab, or pigeon; a Creole delicacy, which presumed a degree of wealth to the residents and ensured a well-appointed dining table of fine linens, silver and fine china upon which were to be served delectably prepared and presented Louisiana country Creole meals.
Such meals would certainly include everything from breakfast pain-perdu with fresh preserves grown in the orchard or gardens, eggs, fresh milk and buttter with cornbread or biscuits and certainly, strong coffee or café-au-lait for the children. Tea was also common, but more often used as a medicinal.
Meat was rarely a part of the Creole breakfast until much later in the more opulent plantation homes of legendary characters such as Valcour Aime.
Leeks, okra, gumbos, fricassee, sauce piquantes and/or ragout with chicken, fish, pork and beef, along with turtle, duck, pigeon, chaudin (panses), guinea, quail, squirrel, wild turkeys, crawfish, shrimp and oysters were all part of the Creole menu to be seen at their long tables-needed because of the usually large family members and not due to pretensions!
Home-made wines of elderberry and muskadine were common as was Port.
A special liqueur known as 'anisette' was concocted for special occasions and served as a festive punch. Country Creoles baked and served 'croquesignolles' -a dense triangular donut, instead of 'beignets' -a lighter New Orleans city-Creole favorite.
The Creole house/cottage could be raised on single-storied of two large front rooms, behind which were two corresponding, but smaller 'cabinets' or 'chambres a coucher' -bedrooms. The 'living room' was also used quite literally as the "master's bedroom". Armoirs were used in the peculiar absence of closets, since as a piece of furniture, it could not be construed to be an added room which would've been taxed.
French doors were the outer board and baton shutters which closed inward. Only later on, did sheets of blown glass which were sized to fit within paned frames develop-for those who could afford this luxury.
The Creole house usually had no center hall, which was a later American adaptation.
Between these two cabinets was usually an open space or back porch, known as a loggia; a rare architectural effect seen in Venice, Italy.
An interior staircase, as well as, an exterior staircase was common; although the Creoles did not usually use the 'garconniere' as a dormitory as would the later to arrive, Acadians who adopted and adapted Creole architectural and other traditions.
The Creoles used the garconniere (upstairs attic space) for storage purposes. Instead, the boys were allowed to sleep on the front gallery during summertime, using citronella and smoke to keep mosquitoes in abeyance. Of course, their parents had the luxury of a mosquito net.
The kitchen (la cuisine) was literally a separate building, removed from the main house for both protection against fire and for practical purposes such as avoiding heating up the cooler living spaces. Equipped with a larger than usual fireplace, this was where delicious meals were prepared and sometimes, served in an adjoining dining hall.
In other cases, the dining room (salle a manger) might also be in the main house.
Chimneys were both conveniences and symbolized wealth. If a chimney was painted white, it advertised the eligibility of a young woman for marriage.
"Le Parloir" or living room was nothing like what people are accustomed to in our day. It was literally a sitting room for the 'art of conversation' -parloir-.
Children were sent outside to play with their visiting cousins or friends, or sent to a play room full of toys-which remained with the hosting family upon departure. Otherwise, the children were occupied by chores.
As children, Creoles were bathed and dressed up before heading to to visit family or friends; no matter the economic conditions of any family. Church attendance was obligatory on all days of obligation and on Sundays. "Holi-days" provided Creoles with special days of social, recreational
and spiritual joy and dignity.
Customary and expected hospitality ensured guests received water or la lemonade, coffee and some kind of pastry (patisserie). If they had arrived late in the evening, an invitation to supper (souper) was most in order, as it was appreciated.
Few received newspapers, even if they could read in French or English, and therefore, welcomed friends and travelers for 'news' from the outside. Inevitably, once radios (powered by large batteries) were introduced, entire families and neighbors would gather round to listen; attempting to understand, if it was an English presentation.
The front gallery, especially during Spring & Summertime, was the true Creole 'living room' where everyone visited and sat in rocking chairs or ladder-back cowhide chairs, enjoying laughter, summertime watermelon hospitality and conversation. Some of these chairs were very tiny and designed for children.
These "galleries" or porches were not an architectural feature of colonial Canadian/Acadian houses. They were and remain a unique feature of the French Creole Caribbean and Antillean world, of which Louisiana was considered the most northern extension of "Latin America" by no lesser authority than Napoleon himself!
Should someone need the 'rest room', it was only a short distance to the back of the main house to the 'out-house' or in the case of men, a convenient blackberry bush provided requisite privacy.
When we consider the radical cultural and environmental adaptation required of any group who came to colonial Louisiana it's no wonder that these groups, such as the Acadians, ultimately embraced their and our unique Louisiana cultural identity of "Creole.""
"The author wishes to acknowledge and express thanks to two living Creoles and one Creole/Acadian who still remember so many fascinating details of our historic Louisiana French and culture. Merci a M. Brian Costello et M. Jack Holden de la Pointe Coupee, et a vous, M. J.D. Soileau de la Pointe Bleu hors de la Ville Platte a la paroisse Evangeline.
Brian Costello & Jack Holden collaborated on the production of the fabulous book, Furnishing Louisiana Creole & Acadian Furniture 1735-1835, published by the Historic New Orleans Collection."