Smith House - Franklin, LA
N 29° 47.685 W 091° 30.209
15R E 644640 N 3296981
Private home, located on 2nd. St. in the Historic District of Franklin, LA. Also known as Allain House.
Waymark Code: WM7X15
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 12/15/2009
Views: 2
Fine home, well landscaped and appeared to be in fine condition. Located on Second St. within the Historic District boundries of Franklin. Home was used as the first Bank in St. Mary Parish in 1837.
Good history comes from the Louisiana State Register application, located
here, which states:
The Smith house is significant in the area of architecture as a large, early, and important
example of the influence of the English architectural tradition in French Louisiana. The design
represents a heavily Anglicized Creole house plan with a standard of Federal style woodwork which
is seldom surpassed in terms of fullness of detail. The staircase is particularly noteworthy because it
represents one of the most complex and elaborate pieces of staircase design and craftsmanship in
Louisiana. Most staircases of the period had one or two flights of steps with one or two plain newel
posts, but the Smith house staircase has three flights of steps and four completely different newel
posts each with its own intricately turned pattern.
The Smith house was built in 1832 by John Hartman as a wedding gift for his bride, Sarah
Knight.
The Hartmans, however, did not remain in the house long. In 1837, the New Orleans Canal
and Banking Company acquired the house and opened the first bank in St. Mary's Parish in the
living room.
In 1848, Dr. James Smith bought the property. The house was occupied by members of the
Smith family until 1917. It has remained known as the Smith House due to its long association with
this family.
Upon the death of Dr. James Smith's son in 1917, the house was sold to Joseph Birg, who
kept it only a short time. In 1918 it was bought by Mr. George Palfrey, who lived there with his family
for six years. In 1924 Mr. Paul Kramer acquired the house and completely renovated it.