 t 938 near the corner of Burgundy Street is the: - Dupre' House. Extensively modified since its construction between 1816 and 1831, the home as it appears today is an Italianate-style townhouse with a heavy parapeted cornice on the front and window cornices at every level. The structure was originally built as a Creole-style house with a hipped roof and small attic dormers. This style was popular at the time of its construction by free man of color Etienne Cordeviolla. In 1839 the house was sold to Jacques Dupre'. It was renovated in 1882 by C. De Puppe to give it its present appearance. Cross Burgundy Street to the house on the opposite corner, number 1002. The:
- Dusuau House was originally a two-story structure erected by the New Orleans Improvement Company, the house was purchased around 1839 by Joseph Dusuau and the third story added. The plain cast-iron balcony at the
second floor level was retained by Dusuau, and a more ornate one added to the third-floor level along with a side gallery. This side gallery is more typical of the French Quarter than of Esplanade Avenue. The windows on the ground level were once similar to the ones on the second level, which are full length windows. At 1016 is the:
- Freeman Annable House, a three-bay side-hall townhouse more typical of the Esplanade mansion, with an ornate Greek Revival facade. Eight Corinthian-style fluted columns support the second floor balcony and large bracketed cornice with heavy parapet, and the main entrance is surrounded by a large pillared cornice. Greek key opening surrounds embellish each window. The house was built by Freeman Annable shortly after he purchased the lot in 1847, and was altered to its present look sometime before owner Charles Perrier sold it in 1886. Alterations included replacing the original box columns with the present ones, adding the large cornice, and the addition of service wings. Cross to the other side of Esplanade either here, or if you prefer,
at North Rampart. When you reach the other side, look for number 1037. This is the unusual:
- Kosselius House, built in 1833-36 for Petronille Bordrier Monsignac, a female of color from St Domingue. In 1837 it was left to attorney Charles Kosselius. The three-story Creole townhouse once had a third story setback behind a roof garden similar to the ones that the LeBreton-Madame Marigny Houses at 906-08 also possessed. Today this third floor appears as a half-story, with four small horizontal rectangular windows. The old cornice complete with dentils and sawtooth rows that once topped the second story is still visible, and the wrought-iron balcony remains. The house was passed on to the Antoine Bienvenu family, then to the estate of Edward Bermudez in 1869. Walk down Esplanade for about a half block till you get to 1009. The:
- Boisfontaine House is similar in plan to many of the area's residences, a two-story plastered-brick side-hall townhouse with a returning balcony and covering at the second level. The covering on this particular house
is of a beautiful design, with rounded corners to match the balcony. The entrance is recessed with composite pilasters, and the rectangular attic windows below a denticulated parapet are of particular note. The house was probably built between 1829 and 1833 for Pierre J. Baron Boisfontaine, and immediately sold to Randal Curell. The Curell family sold it to S.G. Fenton in 1843. Successive owners have altered the house somewhat, but it essentially remained intact. Cross Burgundy Street as you make your way back toward the river. On the opposite corner is the:
 Lanaux House/Melrose Mansion, 937 Esplanade. Today a popular bed and breakfast establishment, the Victorian mansion with the prominent square turret tower was built for G.A. Lanaux in 1884. Modified over the years, the house has been restored to its original appearance, with full galleries on both the first and second floor levels supported by classic fluted Corinthian columns. The hipped roof, which is pierced by a French-style baroque dormer, adjoins at a gable near its peak, and the turret tower is placed
at an angle to the rest of the house. Continue to number 919. The:- Soule'-Murat House is the sole remainder of a pair of two common-wall plastered-brick Creole townhouses built by Edward Grastour for La Compagnie des Architects in 1833. This was one of several houses built for the company; another one, Architect's Row, is located at 2701-07 Chartres Street. The double originally had a common entranceway to a rear stair gallery, which then led to the separate living areas of each half of the townhouse. This can still be seen at the Chartres location. The facade originally featured only one balcony, at the second level, with a wrought-iron railing, the third floor balcony having been added in one of several mid-19th-century alterations. Those alterations also included changing the entranceways and lengthening the third-floor windows. The house was sold to Pierre Soule', the great statesman, in 1835, then to the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Achille Murat. Next door to the Soule' House is the:
- Gardere House, 917 Esplanade. Built between 1831 and 1833 by
sugar planter and later, state treasurer, Francois Gardner, the two-story Creole-style brick townhouse has some Ferderal-style details too. Cast-iron lintels above the windows, a recessed entrance, three openings, and double-hung windows are all examples of the American Federalist architectural style seen here. The brick was also originally painted and penciled. Creole characteristics include the simple wrought-iron railing and the small single dormers at the front and the rear.
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