St. Delphine Plantation “The Big House”

Marker Name

St. Delphine Plantation “The Big House”

Marker Dedicated

August 20, 2006

Marker Sponsor

August J. Levert, Jr, Family LLC

Marker Location

Historic River Road, near town limits, levee side in Addis, Louisiana

Pictures

View images of the St. Delphine Plantation Historical Marker dedication.

Marker Text

Originally a 218.02 acre Spanish land grant to Valery Bergeron in the late 1700’s, Warwick Flanigan built in 1860 a Greek Revival mansion for Isidore Daigle. In 1871 property sold to Auguste J. Levert, Sr. and Leon Bernard. Levert bought Bernard’s interest in 1874 and remained the sole owner until his death in 1886 when his three sons became heirs. August J. Levert, Jr, bought his brothers’ interest in 1888.

A tornado nearly destroyed the plantation home in 1906. The home was rebuilt in 1907 and later destroyed in 1932 due to the Mississippi River levee set back. A portion of the plantation remaining after the levee set back was sold by heirs of Auguste Levert, Jr. to James H. Laws and Co. as part of Cinclare Plantation on May 27, 1943.

The Levert family still owns 398 original plantation acres west of Louisiana Highway 1.

Background

Over 100 folks were on hand Sunday, August 20, 2006, as the West Baton Rouge Historical Association and the August J. Levert, Jr, Family LLC dedicated a State of Louisiana Historic Marker at the sight of the St. Delphine Plantation known as “The Big House” near Addis. General Manager Paul M. Levert welcomed the crowd as family and friends gathered to witness the special event. Erika Baumann, daughter of Paul and Linda Levert lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Deacon Sammy Collura of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brusly lead the prayers and blessed the marker after it was unveiled by family members Amanda Arnold and Katie Levert. August J. (Butch) Levert, Jr. read a brief history of St. Delphine and the Levert family as compiled by his wife, Juanda.

Speakers

Brusly Councilwoman Joanne Bourgeois read the wording and as representative for the Historical Association thanked the Levert family for their generosity in funding the new marker. As West Baton Rouge (WBR) marker Number 16 it will serve to tell the story of the Levert family and home to all those who pass down Historic River Road for years to come.

Local officials adding remarks included Parish President Riley “Pee Wee” Berthelot, Jr., Addis Mayor Pro-Temp Harry Landry, and Mayor Joey Normand of Brusly. Paul Levert closed by thanking everyone for attending, especially those family members who came from as far away as Opelousas, Ville Platte and Lafayette. Everyone was invited to the Brusly Town Hall for refreshments.

Program Participants

Special thanks were given to all of the following program participants for their valuable assistance in making this marker possible:

  • Butch Leger
  • David Wise
  • Mike Varnado
  • Shintech Corporation
  • State Historic Preservation Department
  • Steve McLin
  • Town of Brusly Administration
  • Town of Brusly Maintenance Staff
  • West Baton Rouge Historical Association and Museum
  • West Baton Rouge Maintenance crew

History

Written by Mrs. August J. (Butch) Levert, Jr. (Juanda Levert)

Owners

The St. Delphine Plantation originally began as a 218.02 acre Spanish land grant to Valery Bergeron in the late 1700’s. It was later sold, first to Jean Baptiste Hebert in 1807, then to Bellony Hebert, then to Louis Daigle in 1815 for $1,650. In 1825, Louis Daigle sold to Joachim Daigle and Joachim Daigle re-conveyed the property to Louis Daigle. Near the end of the same year, Louis Daigle sold to Isadore Daigle for 1,200 piastres (Spanish coins.)

Isadore Daigle

Isadore Daigle, married to Celeste Delphine Molaison, owned and lived in a small house on the plantation which he presumably named St. Delphine in honor of his wife according to the then prevailing family tradition. The plantation, which comprised by this time with acquisitions, totaled 1,200 acres and was planted in sugar cane.

Construction of the Mansion

On June 15, 1859, Mr. Daigle entered into a contract with Warwick Flanigan for the construction of a mansion on St. Delphine Plantation at a price of $14,000. The original contract is on file in the Louisiana State University (LSU) archives. The cost of the mansion eventually totaled $20,000. Although the architect is unknown, certain similarities between St. Delphine and other antebellum homes suggest the possibility that Gallier, the renowned Greek architect from New Orleans was the designer.

Daigle Sold the Home

After L. Isadore Daigle’s death, his son eventually sold the plantation to Auguste Levert, Sr. and Leon Bernard. In 1874 Auguste Levert, Sr. bought Leon Bernard’s interest for $10,000. After his death in 1886, his heirs operated the plantation under the supervision of Auguste Levert, Jr. In 1888, Auguste bought the interest of his brothers, Amadee and John B. for $36,666.66 and became sole owner of St. Delphine.

Remodeling of the Mansion

On October 5, 1906, a tornado nearly demolished the mansion. It was remodeled according to plans and specifications prepared by Favrot and Livaudais, architects from New Orleans. The repairs took almost a year to complete.

When Mrs. Auguste Levert, Jr. vacated St. Delphine in 1921, her son, Sidney A. Levert, Sr. moved into the mansion. He resided there with his family, and with the widow of his deceased son, Bud and the children of her marriage to Sidney a. Levert, Jr, three generations living together again. In 1932, a setback of the Mississippi River Levee took the mansion, which had been the scene of innumerable parties, family gatherings and elaborate entertainments.

Demolition of the Mansion

The night before the mansion was demolished, a large farewell party consisting of friends and relatives was held to pay last homage to “The Big House” as St. Delphine was affectionately known to the family. Refreshments were served in the dining room, a band played from the back of the downstairs hall, and dancing was enjoyed by all. For the last time the walls of the stately old mansion rang with music and merriment, conversation and laughter. The finale was played and sung in the early morning hours. The next day, wrecking crews began the demolition which marked the end of a beautiful West Baton Rouge Parish landmark, and in turn, heralded the end of an era.

Literature

Review documents, books and other resources to learn more about the Plantation:

  • Addis Historical Society, Addis, Louisiana, Addis Remembered
  • Elizabeth Kellough and Leona Mayeux, Chronicles of West Baton Rouge, Published by Kennedy Print Shop, Copyright 1979, Baton Rouge, pages 20 through 21
  • Historic marker files at the West Baton Rouge Museum
  • John Michael Lockhart, The Riverside Reader, “Life at St. Delphine”, July 24 through 31, 2003
  • Mary Ann Sternberg, Along the River Road, Published by Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, pages 207 through 208
  • Mary Olga Gassie Landry (Mrs. Paul B. Landry, Jr.), St. Delphine report for the West Baton Rouge Historical Association, dated September 1974 and revised February 1975, entire report
  • State of Louisiana, Parish of West Baton Rouge, 2004 tax notice (showing family still owns 398 acres in West Baton Rouge parish)
  • U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, December 6, 1973, copy of original building contract
  • Vaughn L. Glasgow, Sunday Advocate, November 6, 1966
  • West Baton Rouge Genealogical Society Port Allen, Louisiana, West Baton Rouge Families, page 87