"Captain Joe's"

Although along the lines of simple Acadian and Creole cottage structures, the raised cottage type of plantation homes were larger, more expensive, and displayed the economic status of its occupants. Wealth from growing crops resulted in more and larger plantations on the rivers and bayous. The plantation house evolved during the colonial era, resulting from a sensible use of materials and technology to satisfy the needs of the occupants.

Because basements were not practical in a land with the water table a few feet below ground and with frequent flooding, the solution was to built them aboveground. The ground floor was a structure of brick walls 7 feet to 8 feet high on heavy footings. The low-fired bricks could not withstand the elements, so the outside was whitewashed. The house frame rested on this structure.

Galleries (porches) provided shelter, captured natural breezes and was used for recreation, entertaining, and sleeping in the spring and summer. Galleries also protected the walls of the house from the effects of rain and sun. Dormers pierced the roof to provide light in the attic space that was sometimes used as living quarters. A balastrade ranged between columns on the upper floor joining the wide center staircase rising from the ground floor. A hall ran down the center of the upper floor, separating rooms on each side that were usually interconnected, the front ones opening onto the gallery.

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