This building, typical of the Creole architecture of New Orleans, is best known as the Napoleon House. It gained this name from a story that while the former Emperor was a prisoner on the Island of St. Helena, a group of his admirers in New Orleans, headed by Mayor Nicolas Girod, planned his rescue and proposed to give him domicile in the city. To that end, it's said that Mayor Girod offered his own home as a residence for Napoleon.
Although this story has no substantiation, it has persisted, with minor detail changes, since the time of Mayor Girod himself. There are some indications that at least parts of the story are true.
According to the most popular tale, Mayor Girod planned to engage the services of a stalwart crew (including a pirate or two) and a swift sailing vessel, to secretly sail to the island prison, surprise and overpower the guards, rescue Napoleon, and transport him to New Orleans.
The scheme found backers, according to tradition, and the expedition was to be commanded by Captain St. Ange Bossiere, whose ship was "a long, low, black, raking schooner named the Seraphine." Through the years, Captain Bossiere's name has been substituted with various others - such as Dominique You and Rene Beluche, and other members of Jean Laffite's band. The story goes on to say that plans were ultimately completed, but on the very day the ship was to set sail, word came that Napoleon had died.
One variation of this story - and the one believed by 19th century writer/historian Henry Castellanos to be correct - goes like this: When Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815, the news reached New Orleans at a time the leading citizens were witnessing a performance in the St. Philip Street theatre. Wildest enthusiasm greeted this announcement, made from the stage, and the entire audience filed from the theatre and gathered with the rest of the excited population at Jackson Square. The impression then was that Napoleon would desert France and seek refuge in America and that, in all probability, New Orleans would be his port of entry. Nicolas Girod, who was mayor at this time, is said to have made a speech in which he promised, if Bonaparte would come to New Orleans, he would place his own residence at the disposal of the former Emperor.
The Girod or Napoleon House was owned for many years by members of the Girod family. The exact date of construction is unclear, but records prove that it existed (as a two-story dwelling only) in 1798, when it was sold by the heirs of Dona Angela Monget to Don Claudio Francois Girod. It hasn't been determined when the third story was added and the distinctive belvedere placed on the roof. In 1814, Claude Francois Girod died and the property passed to his brother, Nicolas, then serving his first term as the first elected mayor of the city. The home remained under his ownership until his death in 1841. |
