This year the Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society Palm Sunday Tour of Homes offers a program like none before. Newly constructed houses, built to reflect the architecture of an earlier time, will be on the tour. According to Karen Miller, CHPS tour chair, the 42nd annual tour theme is “Past + Future.” Homes built over a hundred years ago will join with the new wave of quality infill homes with traditional character and detailing.

Infill can be used to describe new houses constructed on vacant or underused lots. Infill houses built in historic districts are subject to certain city historic commission standards.

“We’re seeing some changes downtown as land becomes available,” said Miller. “These changes indicate a new vitality, yet we continue to celebrate the preservation of our past. Plus, we’ll be hosting this tour in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the city’s founding and naming.”

On tour

This year’s CHPS program will be a special souvenir piece. Houses include the following.

The Flanders/Granger house at 605 Moss Street (corner of Moss and Mill Street) stands shoulders above surrounding properties, literally. The clapboard cypress home is elevated six feet atop brick piers and latticework. It is secured behind a tall wrought iron fence.

It is a house that slows traffic. Sunday, gates will be flung open to welcome Palm Sunday ticket holders inside.

Original stained glass, curving floor to almost ceiling windows and detailed fretwork over each interior doorway is only the beginning of features that distinguish this home.

New owners are Daniel and Lauren Granger.

“I can’t believe I live here,” Lauren Granger said. “We have our own style, but we will continue to honor the integrity of this house.”

The two-story house with wide center hall was built in 1902 by one of the Bel brothers of the Bel Lumber Company for Catherine Goos and Willie Flanders.

The Grangers have selected furniture and lighting pieces as distinctive as the home. Many are mid-century modern. Lines are sleek and simple, allowing the character and detail of the house to take center stage. The totally remodeled kitchen and pantry is well-organized marvel.

The Shreve home at 406 Hodges Street is a good example of a turn-of-the-century workingman’s house, according to Adley Cormier, local historian, LC historical commissioner and CHPS member.

“It’s a balloon-frame house which makes use of the exceptional construction lumber that was being milled here in Lake Charles,” said Cormier. “The gable end is made up of hundreds of shingles with decorative ends. These were hand-sawn one by one by some carpenter. To me, the labor involved in constructing one of these cottages is amazing. Remember, no power tools, everything is hand cut or hand hammered.”

Adley said the Levy/Nava House at 618 Moss Street resembles a documented Louisiana vernacular house style called, “the Northshore cottage.”

“These were simple cottages, many just one room wide. The design allowed for cooling breezes from Lake Ponchatrain,” said Cormier. “These were popular homes for the New Orleans elite. The Nava home goes on and on to offer a lot of square footage. How this house style was chosen by the Levys (who built the home (around 1885) is unknown. I expect the senior Levys had friends with a summer home on Northshore and decided the style would be perfect for the younger Levys.”

The O’Quinns lived in a one hundred year old house on South Division before building their new house at 516 Hodges Street. This one appears as though it could have been built one hundred years ago.

“They paid attention to every detail and used some of the same woods that would have been used back then,” said Miller about the O’Quinn house. Kelly O’Quinn has a good eye and brought in subtle, but noteworthy features that give the house its character.”

Double fireplaces are nothing new in historical homes. However, the O’Quinn’s fireplace “opens” to the outside entertaining area, a fresh, new perspective on an older home feature.

The Charpentier Historic District is not the only culturally-rich historic neighborhood represented in this year’s CHPS Palm Sunday Tour. The Nellie Lutcher District is also included. The district will was named for the rhythm and blues legend born here, and the area was designated as a zone to highlight the musical heritage of Lake Charles.

One of six new cottages with an old-time Bungalow vibe will be opened right off Broad Street on VE Washington.

“CHPS member Charla Blake said the houses are close to downtown, near Lake Charles Little Theatre, ACTS, The Foundation House, Cash and Carry, the interstate and even the Farmer’s Market.”

“It’s the perfect blend of city and small neighborhood living,” she said.

Charpentier Place is a historically inspired development on the corner of Hodges and Mill Street. One of the models will be open for this year’s tour.

“These are real townhouses,” said Cormier. “Cities such as New Orleans, Savannah and Charleston have these same sort of townhouses with little to no yards to maintain.”

This style is also found in Uptown New Orleans on Magazine Street, according to Cormier. These homes offer the unique advantage of fine historically authentic features and a location walking distance to Downtown Lake Charles jobs, restaurants, churches and entertainment.

Planning

Pre-event tickets priced at $10 (cash or check) are available at Gordon’s Drug Store on Lake Street in Lake Charles and at Papersmith on Ernest Street just north of Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles. Online sales of tickets are available at calcasieupreservation.org.

Day-of-event tickets will be available at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, which will serve as a hospitality, will-call, and information center. In addition, the sanctuary of this National Registered landmark will be open for touring. Pujo Street Café will offer a selection of refreshments based on area history and traditions.

Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society Palm Sunday Tour of Homes is celebrating its 42nd year.