Riviere Building - Thibodaux, LA
N 29° 47.833 W 090° 49.200
15R E 710708 N 3298308
Retail building located on 3rd. St. in Historic Downtown Thibodaux, LA. Looked occupied, but also looked as if it needed some attention.
Waymark Code: WM64QE
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 04/02/2009
Views: 4
Located in the Thibodaux Mulitple Resource Area. Located on 3rd. St. The entire area is easy to locate and walk through. Lots to do, shops, places to eat/drink, etc.. Really a nice area. This building was occupied, but the upper portion appeared as if it needed some work. Found no information in searching, except the Register application, located here:RIVIERE BUILDING Building #6
Builder: Thomas A. Riviere The Riviere Building is a two story, brick, Italianate commercial structure with an elaborate
pressed metal front. The second story's numerous details include engaged composite columns on
pedestals, copious brincade panels, square floral panels, a full entablature, and a central tablet
surmounted by a pediment. An old photo reveals that the original shopfront was fairly conventional.
As originally built, the store had a large open ground story with a square opening in the ceiling which
provided a view of the second story. The opening was defined by balustrades.
Since construction, the second floor opening has been covered over and a new floor has
been inserted dividing the first story. Thus the old second story is now the third. The first story has
been completely modernized, the shopfront has been fitted with carrara glass, and a new fixed
awning has been installed. There is also a more modern very thin single story side wing to the left
which reads as a separate entity. These changes have not affected the aforementioned pressed
metal ornamentation, which is the source of the building's significance.
Significance:
There are undoubtedly over one hundred commercial buildings in Lafourche Parish which
are fifty years old or older. Most of these are either simple late nineteenth-early twentieth century
plantation stores or examples of the "commercial vernacular," the latter being a diluted, sometimes
much diluted, version of the urban Italianate style.
Of course, the grandest commercial buildings in the parish feature the most elaborate
Italianate styling. The Riviere Building is one of only three false front Italianate commercial buildings
in Lafourche Parish which retain their architectural integrity. Others have been modified beyond
recognition. Of these three, the Riviere Building is the only one with an ornamental pressed metal
front
Street address: 405 W. Third Thibodaux, LA USA 70301
County / Borough / Parish: Lafourche
Year listed: 1986
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900-1925
Historic function: Commerce/Trade
Current function: Unknown
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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