The fate of the 18th century era plantation cottage that was to be moved from Nine Mile Point in Jefferson Parish to Destrehan Plantation has changed after the Jefferson Parish Council last week made a $20,000 pledge to keep the building in the parish.
Nancy Robert, Executive Director of Destrehan Plantation, said she quickly mounted an effort to save the home after she heard it was in jeopardy of being demolished.
“I am excited for them and we are willing to step aside and feel that we brought it to their attention. I think if we hadn’t of acted when we did it may have already been demolished,” Robert said.
The building was originally donated by its owner to the River Road Historical Society and was in the beginning stages of being disassembled for transportation to Destrehan Plantation when the Jefferson Parish Council voted to reimburse the plantation for expenses they had used on the home.
“The only problem I had is that we had already put $20,000 into the project in starting to clear up debris and things like that,” Robert said.
Plantation officials said they had planned on using the building as an administrative center and it was only after the planned relocation became public that the Nine Mile Point Civic Association contacted local media in an effort to stop the plan to move the building.
“Whenever a building can be saved and kept at its original location I think that’s good. especially a building as old as it is,” Robert said. “You know if Jefferson can save it I’m all for that.”
Robert said Destrehan Plantation regularly pursues historic buildings and that all of the structures currently on the property, outside of the main house and the washhouse, came from other plantations within the state.
“That’s one of our missions, historic preservation, and when you look at buildings like that and you can see lots of potential in it,” Robert said. “I think that’s a great project and I’m hopeful they are successful with it.”
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