Henri Penne Plantation, House, 1040 Henri Penne Road, Breaux Bridge, St. Martin Parish, LA

2017 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry
Significance: The Henri Penne House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 for architectural significance as "an Anglo-American raised cottage" or Federal-Creole blended styles. Federal features include the centered front entry opening into a central hall, originally with stairs to the second floor and paired six-panel doors at front and rear porches; and gable wall fireplaces and chimneys. Typical of Creole or Acadian styles are the cypress structure; floor plan with large rooms at front opening directly onto the front porch; small rooms at the rear; brick-pier foundation, and full-width porches at front and rear. The half-story under the gable roof is undivided and includes tongue-and-grooved plank doors opening into the attic over front and rear porches. Finishes are painted or natural wood and matched to original finishes as closely as possible.

The Henri Penne House was constructed circa 1821 in Jeanerette, between Bayou Teche and Highway 182, as part of the Loisel (Albania) Plantation property. Robert Smith purchased the house in 1974 and relocated it to the present site. Every attempt was made to recreate the original site conditions including compass orientation, road and circle of live oak trees at front, and Bayou Teche at rear. Each structure was re-installed on similar foundations, including salvaged brick piers for the house and maison dimanche, at the same elevation above ground as their original settings.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N2224
Survey number: HABS LA-188-A
Building/structure dates: ca. 1821 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1974 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 80004252