Francois Cousin House, French Creole cottage in Lacombe, Louisiana.
The Francois Cousin House is a French Creole residence in Lacombe built with brick-between-post walls and three equal-sized rooms arranged for practical living. A full-length front gallery supported by shaped columns faces the street, with a central chimney that heated multiple spaces inside.
Built between 1778 and 1790 by Jean Francois Cousin, the house served as both residence and business headquarters for lumber and brick manufacturing. It reflects the early French settlement patterns and economic activities that developed along Louisiana's water routes.
The house displays French Creole building traditions with its brick-between-post construction, a method rooted in the craftsmanship of the region. The front gallery with its shaped columns represents how families organized their homes to connect indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The house sits on Main Street in Lacombe and was lifted and restored in 2011 to protect it from flooding. The careful maintenance keeps the structure sound so visitors can clearly see the original building elements and room layout.
Clay pits behind the property supplied brick production, and the finished bricks traveled by schooner across Lake Pontchartrain to support New Orleans rebuilding efforts. This link shows how a small rural operation contributed to the growth of the larger city.
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