Ormond Plantation House
A French Colonial-style Creole plantation house and historic property in Destrehan, Louisiana.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Ormond Plantation House is a historic French Colonial-style Creole plantation house in Destrehan, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. The property stands on the former plantation lands between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River and is associated with the region's late-eighteenth- and nineteenth-century agricultural, architectural, and social history. It is especially notable for its construction technique and unusual paired side structures, traditionally identified as garconnières or bachelor quarters. The main house was built in the late eighteenth century, probably shortly before 1789, although some accounts place construction as early as 1780. Its walls use a regional method known as briquettes entre poteaux, in which brick infill is placed between cypress structural posts. The front and rear walls use brick, while the side walls incorporate an adobe-like filling. A broad front gallery is supported by rounded brick and cement columns, with wooden columns on the upper level supporting the roof. These features reflect the adaptation of French Colonial and Creole building practices to the climate, materials, and labor systems of lower Louisiana. Pierre Trepagnier, a Louisiana militia officer and sugar planter, is identified as the builder and first owner. He received the tract from Spanish Governor Don Bernardo de Galvez in recognition of military service during the American Revolutionary War, including actions against the British at Natchez. Trepagnier and his wife, Elizabeth Reynaud, raised eight children at the property. The plantation initially produced indigo and later shifted toward sugarcane. Its early operation depended on enslaved labor, an essential but often underrepresented part of the property's economic history. In 1805, Colonel Richard Butler acquired the house and land from Trepagnier's widow and gave the property the name Ormond, referring to his family's ancestral home, Ormonde Castle in County Tipperary, Ireland. Butler later entered into a business relationship with Captain Samuel McCutchon, a merchant, sailor, and enslaver. In 1819, Butler transferred his holdings to McCutchon and moved with his wife to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The reasons for the transfer remain uncertain; avoidance of a yellow-fever epidemic has been suggested, but this explanation is not conclusively established. The two prominent side wings are a defining feature of the property. Sources disagree about whether they were added around 1811 during Butler's ownership or around 1830 under McCutchon. They are taller than the central portion of the house and are thought to show architectural influence from the Atlantic seaboard. The McCutchon family continued the plantation's agricultural operation, and marriages connected the family with the owners of neighboring Destrehan Plantation. Following the Civil War, the plantation entered a period of decline and changed hands repeatedly, including sales at public auctions in 1874 and 1875. Basile LaPlace Jr. purchased the property in 1898 with plans to develop rice production. His violent death in 1899 generated competing local explanations, including an unsubstantiated allegation involving the Ku Klux Klan and another theory involving a caretaker's family. These accounts remain matters of historical legend rather than established fact. The Schexnaydre family subsequently acquired the property and divided ownership among five brothers. Several Schexnaydre families lived at the manor before the property was sold to the Inter-Credit Corporation in 1926. During the late 1920s and 1930s, tenants occupied the house and land while the buildings deteriorated. Alfred and Mrs. Brown, owners of Brown's Velvet Dairy in New Orleans, purchased the property and began a major restoration in 1943. Their work enclosed the carriageways, integrated the garconnières into the main building, and introduced indoor plumbing, natural gas, and electricity. After later ownership by Johnson & Loggins, Betty R. LeBlanc purchased the house and approximately 17 acres in 1974. She began another restoration campaign in the late 1970s and early 1980s after deterioration associated with earlier renovations, but died in 1986 before the work was completed. Ormond Plantation House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property is described as being owned by Irvin J. Carmouche, who has continued restoration and made the manor available for tours, weddings, luncheons, private events, and bed-and-breakfast accommodation. It is therefore best understood not as a conventional consumer brand, but as a historic property whose name functions as an identity for heritage tourism and private hospitality services.
History
Ormond Plantation House was established on land granted in the early 1780s to Pierre Trepagnier by Spanish Governor Don Bernardo de Galvez. Trepagnier had served as an officer in the Louisiana Militia during the American Revolutionary War and was recognized for his role in subduing British forces at Natchez. He developed the property as an agricultural plantation, first cultivating indigo and later sugarcane. The main residence was completed in the late eighteenth century, probably shortly before 1789, although an earlier construction date has also been reported. Trepagnier lived there with his wife, Elizabeth Reynaud, and their eight children. The house represents a regional form of French Colonial and Creole architecture. Its builders placed brick between cypress posts in the front and rear walls, a technique known as briquettes entre poteaux. The side walls used an adobe-like infill. The elevated front gallery, rounded masonry columns, and upper-level wooden supports were practical responses to the Louisiana environment as well as distinctive architectural features. The property later became particularly recognizable for two tall side wings, known as garconnières, whose date of construction remains disputed. One interpretation dates them to about 1811, during the ownership of Richard Butler; another places them around 1830, after Captain Samuel McCutchon acquired the property. Richard Butler purchased the plantation from Trepagnier's widow on June 25, 1805. He renamed it Ormond after his family's ancestral home, Ormonde Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland. Butler became associated with Samuel McCutchon in 1809. On June 29, 1819, Butler transferred his holdings to McCutchon in a private agreement and relocated with his wife to Bay St. Louis. The reason for the transaction was not recorded. Some accounts connect it to an attempt to avoid a yellow-fever epidemic, although Butler later died in Bay St. Louis at the age of 43. McCutchon was a merchant, sailor, plantation owner, and enslaver. His sons later assumed responsibility for the property, which continued to prosper. Family connections further linked Ormond to the plantation elite of the area: Samuel B. McCutchon married Adele d'Estrehan, daughter of the owner of neighboring Destrehan Plantation. The plantation economy during this period depended on enslaved labor, and the site's history must be understood within the broader system of slavery that shaped Louisiana agriculture and wealth. After the Civil War, Ormond experienced financial decline and passed through multiple owners. It was sold twice and then sold again at public auctions in 1874 and 1875. Basile LaPlace Jr. bought the plantation on December 1, 1898, intending to establish a rice-producing enterprise. LaPlace, a justice of the peace and later a state senator, died violently on October 11, 1899, less than a year after the purchase. He was reportedly found hanging from an oak tree with bullet wounds. Later accounts proposed several explanations, including an alleged Ku Klux Klan assassination and a revenge theory involving a caretaker's family, but neither account is established by conclusive evidence. The Schexnaydre family acquired the plantation after the LaPlace period. Five brothers—Joseph, Emilien, Barthelemy, Albert, and Norbet—each held a one-fifth interest. Emilien's family occupied the manor, and several Schexnaydre households lived on the property at the same time. The family retained ownership until 1926, when the property was sold to the Inter-Credit Corporation. Tenants occupied the house during the late 1920s and 1930s, while insufficient maintenance caused significant deterioration. Alfred and Mrs. Brown, owners of Brown's Velvet Dairy in New Orleans, purchased Ormond and began a substantial restoration in 1943. They enclosed the carriageways, connected the garconnières to the main house, and added indoor plumbing, natural gas, and electricity. After Mrs. Brown's death, Alfred Brown sold the property to real-estate developer Johnson & Loggins, whose renovations were later considered damaging or inadequate. Betty R. LeBlanc purchased the house and 17 acres in 1974 and began a further restoration program in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She died of cancer in June 1986 before completing the work. The property is now recognized as a National Register historic site. It has continued under private ownership and is described as being owned by Irvin J. Carmouche, who has pursued restoration and opened the manor for public tours and private hospitality uses. Its present identity combines historic preservation, architectural interpretation, lodging, and event hosting.
- 1986
LeBlanc dies before restoration is completed
[1]Betty R. LeBlanc died in June 1986 while restoration work remained unfinished.
- 1974
Betty R. LeBlanc purchases the property
[1]LeBlanc acquired the house and approximately 17 acres and later initiated another restoration campaign.
- 1943
Brown family restoration begins
[1]Alfred and Mrs. Brown began a major restoration that integrated the side wings and added modern utilities.
- 1926
Sale to Inter-Credit Corporation
[1]The Schexnaydre family's ownership ended when the plantation was sold to the Inter-Credit Corporation.
- 1819
Transfer to Samuel McCutchon
[1]Richard Butler transferred his holdings to Captain Samuel McCutchon and moved with his wife to Bay St. Louis.
- 1805
Richard Butler acquires and names the property
[1]Richard Butler purchased the plantation from Trepagnier's widow and named it Ormond after his family's Irish ancestral home.
- 1789
Main house completed
[1]The manor was reportedly completed shortly before 1789 and became the residence of Pierre Trepagnier, Elizabeth Reynaud, and their children.
- 1780
Possible early construction date
[1]Some accounts place construction of the plantation house as early as 1780, although other accounts date completion to shortly before 1789.
- 1780
Trepagnier receives the plantation tract
[1]Pierre Trepagnier received the land from Spanish Governor Don Bernardo de Galvez in recognition of military service during the American Revolutionary War.
Products and positioning
A Louisiana heritage property positioned around French Colonial and Creole architecture, plantation history, restoration, and private hospitality events.
Heritage tourism
Historic-house tours
Public tours interpret the plantation house's French Colonial and Creole architecture, ownership history, restoration, and relationship to the wider history of St. Charles Parish. The property is presented as a historic site rather than as a manufactured consumer product.
Hospitality and venue services
Private weddings and events
The historic manor is used for weddings, luncheons, and other private gatherings. The offering combines the property's architectural setting with event-hosting services and access to a recognized Louisiana historic environment.
Lodging
Bed-and-breakfast accommodation
Ormond Plantation is described as operating as a bed-and-breakfast inn, extending the property beyond daytime visitation into overnight heritage hospitality.
Controversies
1899
Unresolved killing of Basile LaPlace Jr.
Basile LaPlace Jr. was reportedly found hanging from an oak tree on the property with bullet wounds on October 11, 1899. Later accounts attributed the killing either to local Ku Klux Klan members or to a caretaker's family, but the available account presents both as unproven explanations.
Brand decisions
1974
Renewed private restoration programStrategyBackground
The property had deteriorated following renovations by Johnson & Loggins.
Action taken
Betty R. LeBlanc purchased the house and 17 acres and began a further restoration effort in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Aftermath
LeBlanc died in 1986 before the restoration was completed; later ownership continued preservation and hospitality use.
1943
Major structural restoration and modernizationStrategyBackground
The house had suffered deterioration and lacked modern utilities after years of changing occupancy and limited maintenance.
Action taken
The Brown family restored the property, enclosed the carriageways, incorporated the garconnières into the main building, and added plumbing, natural gas, and electricity.
Aftermath
The work helped preserve the house as a usable residence, although later owners undertook additional repairs and criticized or reversed aspects of subsequent renovations.
Recent events
Ormond Plantation House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places[1]
Other
The historic property is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as an important Louisiana architectural and cultural resource.
Restoration and public hospitality use continue at Ormond Plantation[1]
Other
The property is described as continuing restoration while operating for tours, weddings, luncheons, private events, and bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
Sources1 sources
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