Historic Places: Historic Roque House to reopen as folk art museum, Natchitoches Louisiana Source: The Natchitoches Times, Sept 1996 Submitted by Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** HISTORIC ROQUE HOUSE TO REOPEN AS FOLK ART MUSEUM Built in 1803 , the Roque House changed hands several times and was moved from its original location near Isle Brevelle to its present site on the riverfront in Natchitoches in 1968. By Bobby DeBlieux The historic Roque House at 1 Rue Beauport will open to the public Thursday, Sept. 12 as the Mildred Hart Bailey Cane River Collection. The grand opening will be held in conjunction with the Natchitoches Historic Foundation's gala on the grounds of the Roque House. The museum will display 50 Clementine Hunter paintings and will be open on a daily basis. This unique and historic structure has a long and colorful past. The building was donated to Museum Contents Inc. by the Celeste and John Hampton Henry Jr. family in 1968. Originally located on property near Isle Brevelle, the house was partially disassembled by the non-profit organization and, with permission of the city, moved to its present location. At the time of the relocation, the Roque House had been unoccupied for 30 years and was used to store hay. It is a pure example of the early style of Creole architecture. The Clementine Hunter paintings are owned by a trust set up by the late Dr. Bailey prior to her death. The museum will be operated by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation and will display paintings on a rotating schedule. In 1735, a slave couple gave bith to a son and named him Pacal‚, after a relative still living in Africa. At the time of his baptism, the name "Yves" was given to him." He was owned by the Derbanne family and remained in their ownership for 63 years. The heirs of the Widow Pierre Derbanne freed Pacal‚ in 1798 and he used his skills as a carpenter to save enough money to purchase the freedom of a loved one who was still in slavery. By 1803, he had acquried 91 acres of land and had completed his house, the house now located at 1 Rue Beauport. Pacal‚ lived in his small bousillage cottage for 14 years. By 1813, he had purchased three slaves of his own and had freed two of them. His last remaining slave, a young Congolese male, was sold to his neighbor, another "free man of color," Augustin Metoyer. Pacal‚ was buried Dec. 18, 1818, in what is now the American Cemetery. The house was bought and sold many times and its original builder has been forgotten, but the last occupant, Madam Aubin Roque, was always eager to show visitors around her small cottage. She was also happy to have them view the portrait of Augustin Metoyer, the portrait that now hangs in St. Augustine Catholic Church at Isle Brevelle. The opening of the Mildred Hart Bailey Cane River Collection Sept. 12 will be a milestone in the interpretation of black culture-through the house that was built by a former black slave and a "free person of color," and through the art work of Clementine Hunter, the daughter of slaves.