Carrollton Courthouse, Historic courthouse in Carrollton, New Orleans, US.
Carrollton Courthouse is a Jeffersonian Neo-classical building at 701 South Carrollton Avenue, designed by Henry Howard and built by Robert Crozier and Frederick Wing in 1854–1855. Its brick and stucco exterior features a symmetrical front with columns and classical detailing. After a three-year renovation, it reopened in February 2023 as an assisted living facility.
The building was constructed in 1855 under architect Henry Howard's direction and originally served as the courthouse for Jefferson Parish. Following Carrollton's incorporation into New Orleans in 1874, the structure gradually transitioned away from its judicial role.
The courthouse's 1858 docket included Joseph Tom v. The Slave Ernest, in which the district judge ruled that "Slaves are persons, not things, and cannot therefore be seized provisionally." That same year an election dispute over the Carrollton mayoralty, marked by armed violence, was heard here before the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed the district judge. The building later became John McDonogh No. 23 School, the first school in Louisiana to celebrate Arbor Day.
The building sits in a residential neighborhood and is easily recognizable from the street due to its classical architecture and prominent columned facade. Visitors can appreciate the architectural details and proportions of the facade by walking along the front of the structure and taking time to observe the design elements.
After its time as a courthouse, the building served as a school and became known for environmental pioneering. The school hosted one of Louisiana's earliest Arbor Day celebrations, and several trees planted during those early observances still stand on the grounds today.
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