MANOR
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
MANOR
Ormond Manor has survived into the early 21st Century with its unique character and sometimes tragic history. In the early 1780's, Pierre D'Trepagnier was awarded a tract of land by the Spanish Governor Don
Bernanrdo deGalvez. The Main building was completed shortly before 1790, the land home to indigo and then to sugar cane. The house is built in the "Louisiana Colonial" style, which is modeled after the great style of the West Indies.
The two wings or garconnieres which give Ormond it's distinctive look, are taller than the main building and of a design possibly from an Atlantic Seaboard influence. The home was often the scene for entertaining officials of the Louisiana and Spanish Governments.
In 1805, Colonel Richard Butler bought the home from Mrs. D'Trepagnier. Butler had served in the U.S. Army and had fallen in love with the South. He named his new home "Ormond," after his ancestral home, the Castle Ormonde in Ireland.
Like many others of the South, Ormond fell on hard times following the War Between the States. It changed hands twice before being sold at public auction in 1874, and again in 1875. Ormond was bought on December 1, 1898, by State Senator Basile LaPlace, Jr., son of the famous New Orleans pharmacist and land owner after whom the town of LaPlace is named. LaPlace met with an ugly death. Ormond then passed from LaPlace's widow to his mother and then to the Schexnayder family, all during the year 1900. The Schexnayders held the property until 1926 when they turned it over to the Inter-Credit Corporation.
During the late 1920s and into the 1930s, a number of tenants occupied the house and the land. The home was allowed to deteriorate with crumbling walls and a sagging porch. It was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Brown, owners of the Brown's Velvet Dairy in New Orleans. Beginning in 1943, the Browns undertook a major restoration, which included enclosing the carriageways and making the garconnieres a part of the main building. The Browns added modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing, natural gas, and electricity.
After the death of Mrs. Brown, Mr. Brown sold Ormond to a real estate developer, Johnson & Loggins, who made minor but costly renovations in the manor house. In 1974, Johnson & Loggins sold the home and 17 acres of land to Betty R. LeBlanc, then executive vice-president of Barq's Beverages, Inc., in New Orleans. The remaining, surrounding land was developed into the community of Ormond Plantation Estates Subdivision. Located on the borders on New Sarpy and Destrehan, it includes Cypress Lakes Country Club, an 18-hole golf course, homes, condominiums and apartments, places of worship, shopping, schools, medical and convenience complexes.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mrs. LeBlanc began restoring the Manor, which had begun to deteriorate due to the renovations made by Johnson & Loggins. She was not able to see the renovations completed, succumbing to cancer in June 1986. The manor home was again sold to new owners.
Turning over a new leaf of history for Ormond, it was purchased by Irvin J. Carmouche (who operated the property until his passing in 2013). His ownership and care of the Carmouche family established the property as a highly successful business. Weddings, special occasions and private events as well as a creole restaurant opened in the Summer of 2011, headed by Chef Richard Kiral attracted many to dine and celebrate. An addition, The Carriage House, was renovated as a separate space for events. The Bed and Breakfast was added, featuring five period decorated rooms as a quiet night or more awaiting you for a special get a-way.
In the Spring of 2023, new owners purchased the property Ormond Manor and operations were taken over by Buddy Boe as a top Wedding and Event Venue, Bed and Breakfast, and St. Charles Parish’s finest, Creole restaurant still headed by Chef Richard Kiral. The work continues of restoring Ormond into a place of love, unity and celebration for all. Ormond Manor extends an invite to visit; come in and get to know Ormond, its welcoming character, and all it has to offer.
