History of The Caldwell House    

 

The Caldwell House was built by Vernon Caldwell in 1907. Mr. Caldwell was a state senator and served under the Huey P. Long administration. He also owned a brick manufacturing company with his father and one brother. The company was located on the west side of the Vermilion River. They built some of the schools and other buildings in the parish and all over the state. Mr. Caldwell helped to establish the Bank of Erath and Erath Sugar Company. Along with the Moresi family, Mr. Caldwell also founded the Vermilion Sugar Company. Eventually it was sold and moved to Cuba.  

 

Mr. Caldwell built The Caldwell House of bricks made by his company. It was originally a brick Victorian home and was actually the first brick home built in Abbeville, as reflected by an Abbeville Meridional article which is framed and hangs at the front entrance of the home. The Caldwell House was stuccoed in the 1920's when the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture became popular and it received a tiled roof at that time, as well. The home is about 5,500 square feet under roof. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

 

Originally, the home had a wood fence as seen in the picture above.  However, five years after the home was constructed, a brick fence was built in the front of the home. That fence no longer exists. Fences around homes at that time were often built to keep livestock from wandering into the yard.

  

The sheer size of The Caldwell House makes it a landmark within the heart of Abbeville's downtown community. Its generous parlors, halls and grand central staircase create the presence of a luxury villa, yet the house remains warm and inviting.  

Welcome to The Caldwell House!

Please Step into the Parlor.        

 

When one enters through the front door into the central hall or enters from the side porch door, the parlor is one of the first rooms to be seen. Its pressed tin ceiling, original hardwood floors and pocket doors are only some of the unique qualities of this room. Your eyes are drawn to the turret of six windows in the corner.  The turret is like a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of the home which looks onto a wrap-around porch into a beautifully landscaped yard. The Caldwell has turrets on the east and west front of the home, downstairs and upstairs and all contain six windows. Generations of dreamers must have gazed out of those many windows, marveling at the uniqueness of this feature and the charming town just beyond. 

 

When the home was built, a large bookcase was constructed in the corner of the parlor near the door. It contained every issue of National Geographic for many years, beginning from Issue #1.

 

Watch for Part II of

The Caldwell House Tour

in one of our future newsletters.     

What's going on in Acadiana....

 

August 25th -- Cooking Demonstration by Chef Brian Blanchard of iMonelli Restaurant at The Caldwell House - 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm ($60/person) - limited space available.  Call 337-909-0050 or Email us.

 

October 14, 15, 16, 2011 - Louisiana Cattle Festival, Abbeville, La.  

 

October 14, 15, 16, 2011 - Festivals Acadiens et Cr�ole, Lafayette, La., Attend the festival in Lafayette, then drive the short distance to Abbeville, get away from the crowds and relax at The Caldwell House.

 

October 22, 2011 - Farmer's Market, Downtown Abbeville