Samuel May Williams - Evolution of the House - Plans

When some walls and floors were recently opened up, it was clear to see that the Samuel May Williams House has changed several times since it was built in 1839. A historic structures report from 1978 studied these changes. The house is very Creole in form and matches the typical plan of this style from the 1820s, as shown (M2i) in this illustration from Louisianas Remarkable French Vernacular Architecture by Jay D. Edwards (1988).




The report calls out four distinct phases of construction and renovations to the building:

Phase I - Original Construction (c. 1839-1842)




This was a simple Creole plan with a semi-detached brick kitchen and a front and back porch.


Phase II - Williams' Alterations (c. 1842 - 1860)



In the first set of renovations, the south porch was constructed and portions of the back porch were taken in as rooms.


Phase III - Post Williams' Alterations ( c. 1860-1900)



During Phase III, interior doors were cut between rooms, a small lean-to shed was built behind the kitchen and the steps were shortened when the island was raised after the 1900 Storm.


Phase IV - Post Williams' Alterations (c. 1900 - present)