KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Built in 1856, 1456 Camp St. is one of only two original homes left on Coliseum Square.
- Once home to the Sophie B. Wright School and The Catherine Club.
- Fully restored by owners Mark and Terri Powers after decades of vacancy.
- Features include 6,405 square feet, 5 bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen, and a saltwater pool.
One of only two original homes remaining on New Orleans’ historic Coliseum Square and once home to the Sophie B. Wright School and The Catherine Club, 1456 Camp St. has officially hit the market with an asking price of $3.1 million. The historic residence, built in 1856, has been fully restored and renovated by homeowners Terri and Mark Powers, who purchased the Italianate mansion in 2017.
“It has been an absolute privilege for my husband and I to live in a home so steeped in history and in such a great location in the city. We fell in love with that powerful combination of location and history, and over the last eight years, we poured our hearts into restoring it to its true character, making sure that while it has the feel of a newer home, its original grandeur still shines through,” said Terri Powers. “We look forward to passing on the home to someone who will appreciate the history, uniqueness, and beauty. It’s a home that will never be replicated.”
The listing agent is Eleanor Farnsworth, Realtor with Latter & Blum | Compass. A native New Orleanian, Farnsworth has been selling homes across the Greater New Orleans area for more than 40 years and has a Historic Residential Specialist (HRS) designation. “This extraordinary Italianate mansion is a true architectural gem offering a lifestyle of unparalleled elegance. This is more than just a home; it is a statement,” writes Farnsworth. “It is an opportunity to own a piece of New Orleans history, a residence that exudes timeless beauty and sophistication.”
1456 Camp St., located on a 63′ x 127′ lot, features 14 total rooms, including 5 bedrooms, 5½ bathrooms, and 6,405 square feet of living space. It is in the Lower Garden District on Coliseum Square, which is near the St. Charles Ave. streetcar line, Mardi Gras parade routes, restaurants and retail on Magazine St., and quick access to the Arts District, Central Business District, and the French Quarter.
The historic plaque resting on the outside wrought iron gates surrounding the front of the property tells the history of 1456 Camp St. (formerly 444 Camp St.). It was built circa 1856 for businessman E.T. Robinson and first known as the E.T. Robinson Mansion.
In 1884, the home transitioned into Miss Sophie B. Wright’s House Institute, an English and classical school for young ladies and children and later the city’s first free night school. Thirty years later, the institute transitioned into
The Catherine Club, a boarding house that provided young women chaperoned housing, social and academic training, and job assistance. The club had a motto, “I serve,” and a mission statement, “The city’s big sister to the worthy girl.”
After more than 50 years of existence, The Catherine Club faded away in the 1960’s, and the mansion stayed vacant for over three decades. In the mid-1990’s, 1456 Camp St. was acquired by the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, and then that same year, it was bought by new owners and transitioned back into a single-family home. In 2017, Mark and Terri Powers bought the luxury home, and they were enamored by the history and location.
“Growing up in New Orleans, I’ve always cherished the city’s unique charm, and this home perfectly embodies that in a neighborhood known for its energy and vibe. We are also dog people who like to live in a walkable neighborhood, so being on Coliseum Square across from a park was a dream come true,” said Terri Powers. “It’s truly the best location imaginable, and the history behind the property is so unique and one of a kind.”
Powers, a marketing and business consultant with a love for real estate renovations, found out just how fascinating the history of 1456 Camp St. was when she and her husband started the restorations. They found hidden gems such as a fireplace in the laundry room, old newspapers, artifacts from horses and carriages, a more than a century-old bullet (the area was said to be used in 19th century shooting duels), an underground brick thoroughfare that they hit when they dug for a fence, and as much as eight layers of paint and hidden marble on some of the walls.
Terri Powers took on the role of what she calls the “general contractor of the restoration.”
“Every single floor, wall, baseboard, ceiling, exterior stucco, brick, marble, and wrought iron work – from the under carriage to the very top – was all restored and renovated,” she said.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted by soaring 16-foot ceilings adorned with ornate plasterwork, a 12-foot solid-wood pocket door leading into the dining room, an original marble fireplace, and Greek key moldings in each of the main rooms downstairs. The dining room includes trompe l’oeil fresco paintings. The living room and family room are each illuminated by 19th century neoclassical crystal chandeliers, a floor-to-ceiling mirror, and marble mantle with an elaborate brass mirror.
The floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the landscaped spaces, slate-floored patio, and a saltwater pool. The heart of the home is a spacious custom chef’s kitchen featuring extra-thick Calacatta Gold marble countertops, custom cabinetry, a kitchen pantry and butler’s pantry, and state-of-the-art appliances.
A mahogany staircase leads to ensuite bedrooms. A second staircase in the kitchen area leads to the back of the home with 12′ ceilings and two additional en-suite bedrooms. The second-level primary suite includes two spacious walk-in closets and overlooks Coliseum Square through large walk-out windows that open onto a balcony.
The property offers four private balconies and a close to 600-square-foot guest house, perfect for visitors or a private home office/studio. Throughout the residence, wood floors gleam under the natural light streaming through grand floor-to-ceiling windows, which not only illuminate the interiors but also offer views of Coliseum Square and its lighted fountain.
“I get the biggest compliment when people see it restored, and they say it looks and feels like a newer home,” said Powers. “That means we really succeeded at restoring it to the level it deserves. We are proud to be a part of this restorative chapter of this incredible home’s history.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
