The Cottage Plantation, West Feliciana Parish, La. File prepared by Jan McCoy and submitted by Donald W. Johnson ------------------------------------------------------------------ ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------ PLANTATION OF THE BUTLER FAMILY THE COTTAGE PLANTATION BUTLER HOME West Feliciana Parish,Louisiana Hidden away deep in the woods some seven miles from St. Francisville and far away from the main highway, The Cottage is built upon a great burnt sienna colored bluff - the trail's end of a long sandy road leading to the house. At Catalpa P.O. the distance from the highway is about a mile. On the way one crosses Alexander Creek, which like the Homochito Bayou, following prolonged rains assumes the size of an angry stream of sufficient height to isolate this charming old domicile. The road from the highway is through a woodland country somewhat like that around lovely Old Plantation Manor, but at times the road to The Cottage as at Oakley, one finds the unpretentious old home filled to over- flowing with a rare collection of historical and artistic treasure. In 1811 Judge Thomas Butler, from whom this prominent branch of the "Fighting Butler" stem, located in this parish and purchased the plantation. He obtained two tracts of land, which the Spanish Crown according to the aged yellowed paper worded in Spanish and bearing the signature of Governor Hector de Carondelet, granted to John Allen and to Patrick Holland in the year 1785. True to the blood, many of these Butler have been prominent personages. In this home still live Mr. Robert Butler and his sister Miss Louise Butler, the prominent Louisiana Historian who with their old negro servants, continue to maintain a gay and interesting life in this old Spanish plantation home deep in the woods. Miss Butler's writing are prized by the Louisiana Histori- cal , for at no time does she permit the romantic to cloud the varacity of her statements. What she writes is authentic, and recognized historians hold her articles in high esteem for that reason. The Cottage is undoubtedly one of the most charming old plantation houses in the entire Southland. Its history is also interesting. Constructed originally along the substantial, unpretentious lines of provincial Spanish plantation homes in 1811, and added to from time to time by competent builders who retained the original lines in their additions, it is harmonious and pleasing in its simplicity. The woodwork within, as is generally the case in Spanish houses, is simple in design for most part, and shows the hand- iwork of finished craftsmen. Throughout the house the mullioned transomed windows, hand-craved doors, built-in cabinets, panelling, and unusual wooden mantels are all the work of experienced cabinet makers and wood carvers. Especially is this the case in the original house where an air of ele- gance marks the finish of the rooms. The salle or parlour is a rather large room of great distinction. It is a period room of about 1811, being in great part as it was originally, its draperies having much in common with the beauti- ful ones in the drawing room at Greenwood Manor the charming home of Mrs. Edward Butler. The handsome furnishing are original, and like those of the Edward Butler home, one is impresses at once by their quaint beauty. The rooms possess the restfulness not obtained where the reproduction of an old room has been attempted. A color scheme of old ashy reds predominate, forming a splendid setting for the pieces of fine old carved rosewood and mahogany furniture, and the painting of old masters in their handsome real gold leaf framed of a century ago, the freshness not dimmed by the passing years. There are splendid chairs and sofas in their original French and English brocades - individual chairs of beautiful design. There are cabinets and what nots, all filled with exceptionally rare pieces of bric-a-brac-Dresden, Sevres Doulton, Limogo and endless other pieces equally as fine that were collected in often days, when European tours were made yearly. The brocatelle designed Brussels carpet matching in tones the voluminous handsome window drapes is as beautiful as when placed in this room a century ago and one marvels at its splendid condition. In the rear of this attractive drawing-room is the library and music room combined. Here originally was one of the choicest collection of rare books to be found in a section noted for its fine libraries forms a center of attraction in another room, and opening as it does into the salle, contrasts pleasingly, the immense panelled doors giving a typically Spanish appearance to the room. Among the innumerable articles in this home are dozens that are museum pieces. Of marked interest are the immense Audubon prints (First Editions) an old curio console, and an immense mahogany couch of colonial design nine feet long that would make the heart of a collector glad - it is massive in construction and long enough to seat the entire squard of "Fighting Butlers", at a time and still have ample room for Andrew Jackson. A number of old mahogany bookcases of good design are filled with rare volumes, most of them having costly bindings, a number of them first editions. Among these volumes is an elephant edition of "The Costumes of Ancient England and Ireland", a magnificent book of its kind. It is profuse- ly illustrated, each of the steel engraved plates colored by hand with the exquisite illumination and perfection of detail found in old missals. These books were retained by the family from the priceless library of several thou- sand volumes that were collected by the great soldier stateman, owner of this home. At present it is a part of the fine collection of the Louisiana States University Library and is kept under the name of the Thomas Butler Collect- tion. In the dining-room the Hero of Chalmette and his staff of officers, with eight "Fighting Butler" amongst them, dined and wined during their stay at "The Cottage" enroute to Natchez, after the Battle of New Orleans. In this stately room are magnificent pieces of ancient dark oak furniture elegantly carved, the massive buffet of attractive design with an upper glazed section containing rare pieces of Wedgewood, Spode, Chelseaware, and much fine old Irish and English crystal ware. The matched pieces of the dining-room set and large table are all splendid antiques of great beauty, and complete a most attractive room. The andirons are all soild brass, slave-made and somewhat unusual. The bed-rooms all have high ceilings, and some of the mahogany four- poster are ten feet high with heavy cornices. The rest of the furniture of the rooms is equally as attractive forming stately chambers wherein have slept distinguished visitors. The treasure of this interesting home go back to Europe of past cent- uries, some coming through marriage into other prominent families, brought from abroad by members of the family and admiring friends. All are in har- mony with the restful unpretentious surrouding. Above the stairs by way of the hallway what appears to be the attic is in reality a series of room ample in size, used in olden days when the family was larger. They are equally as well finished as those on the first floor. All have fine antique furniture, elaborately carved four-post beds, etc. The estate is almost a village in itself, with its many and varied buildings which always have been kept in good repair and well painted. In the old carriage house, along with two antiquated buggies, is the ancient state carriage built in Philadelphia specially for Captain Richard Butler at a cost of one thousand dollars. This was in the year 1808, when he bought the plantation home in St. Charles Parish which he named Ormonde, purchasing it from the widow of Captain de Trapagnier who was kidnapped some time before. Madame de Trapagnier later married a Monsieur de Macarty, menber of the pro- minent New Orleans family. In the house are vast quantities of tokens, mementos, old letters - affect- ionate and dramatic - ancient documents of every description. There are nine trunks full of them, containing a world of data about the Butler family and dozens of other prominent families of the State. All this material was collected for the most part by Miss Louise Butler, the gracious chatelain of The Cottage. In the rear of The Cottage Plantation garden grounds is found a brick enclosure with an attractive iron gate, and here lie many members of the Butler family. White marble headstone mark their resting places, all neatly carved. It is fittingly located among the trees, and the birds with their cheery song somehow make of it a place devoid of gloom. * * * * *