The historic Claiborne Mansion overlooking Washington Square Park in Marigny is on the market for $3.5 million.
This two-story townhouse was built in 1859 for WCC Claiborne II, the son of Louisiana’s first American governor.
For the past 30 years, the building was operated as a bed and breakfast by Cleo Pelleteri, who passed away last year at the age of 83. Pelleteri preserved or restored many of the historic details in the house, including the wrought iron balconies, pocket doors, and windows. Vaulted ceilings, cornices, and wide plank floors.
Detail of a bedroom at the Claiborne Mansion in the Faubourg Marigny.
The mansion was designed by architect James Stewart in a primarily Greek Revival style with French colonial elements. There are 10 bedrooms, eight and a half bathrooms, and an outdoor 40-foot saltwater pool and deck area.
The property is located on Dauphiné Street between Frenchman Street and Esplanade Avenue, just a few blocks from the upper end of the French Quarter.
Mr. Pelleteri’s daughter, Laura Ammann, said it has been a labor of love to maintain the 7,400-square-foot property and operate it as a luxury hostel since her mother bought it in 1993.
The mansion remained in the hands of Claiborne’s descendants until 1919, Ammann said. Over the next 70 years, it had three owners, all of whom sought to maintain the house’s historic character.
Then Pelleteri, who lived in Marigny and enjoyed walking around the neighborhood, found the mansion.
“My mother was exploring the neighborhood and peeking through the gate,” she recalled. “She was so intrigued that she bought it right away.”
Claiborne House, bedroom details.
Pelletelli comes from a prominent New Orleans horse racing family and played an important role in the modern history of the Fairgrounds racetrack.
Her father, Anthony Pelletelli, worked with Sylvester Lovelot, John Leterrier, and William Herris to save the truck from auction in 1941 and served as executive vice president until his death in 1952. The truck was then operated by his wife. Thelma Peretelli and her brother Letellier.
The Pelleteri and Letellier families owned the largest minority block of Fair Ground stock from the early 1940s until the late 1970s.
Cleo Pelleteri was married to lawyer John Cummings, owner of Whitney Plantation, until the early 1980s, and leaves behind four children: Sean Cummings, Michelle Cummings, Elise Greenberg, and Aman.
A view of the pool area of the Claiborne Mansion on Washington Square in the Faubourg Marigny.
In addition to the bed and breakfast, Mr. Pelletelli was responsible for other businesses in the New Orleans area. In the 1980s, she opened Bayou Ridge Cafe on Metairie Road, introducing chef Kevin Vizard to New Orleans, before moving to the Marigny. She also ran the Bookstop bookstore, one of the staples of the city’s literary events, but gave up both the store and restaurant to focus on the B&B.
The children are selling the mansion, and Mr. Amann has the same determination to keep it true to its historic roots, whether it is operated as a hotel or art space or returned to the family residence. He said he hopes to find a buyer with the same criteria. .
Park McEnery is a real estate agent.
“Everyone who has owned this house has felt like they were the stewards of this house, just like my mother did,” Aman said.
