Location

Plantation Treasures in the old Prudhomme Hughes Building sits overlooking the beautiful and historic Cane River. This area of Natchitoches, Louisiana, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory, contains many such historic buildings.

Locate us on the map east of I-49 between Shreveport and Alexandria. To contact us by mail use the address, 720 Front Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457. To find more information about Natchitoches (pronounced Nakitush) click here.

A Short History of the Prudhomme Hughes Building

Built Mid-19th Century The Prudhomme Hughes Building, known as such since the 1820s and standing for over a century on Front Street in Natchitoches, represents a captivating example of the elegance and grace typical of this eldest Louisiana Purchase town. The remaining brick structure became the property of interesting and story-laden families. It is said that Gabriel St. Ann Prudhomme, a talented, promising young architect, designed and supervised the casting of the rich iron lace frosting for the long galleries on the front and back of the building.

At least one humorous story remains regarding the Hughes and Aaron Saloon and Billiard Hall on the ground floor in the earlier days of this thriving enterprise. The saloon had a particular elegance, comparable to that noted in similar palaces in New Orleans frequented by the elite Louisiana aristocracy.

With all the accoutrements of a club for young gentlemen including elaborate decor, the establishment became a meeting place on Sunday nights when white-coated waiters served lavish candlelight turkey dinners. The young gentlemen had to choose one of three staircases, two straight and one spiral case. These same gentlemen, depending on their conditions after dinner and frequenting the restaurant and saloon, stumbled carefully up and then down one or the other of these staircases based on their ultimate dexterity after imbibing!

The first story in the north half of the building always housed commercial enterprises. Parker's Shoe Store occupied that part of the building around 1899. After the 1900 sale of the property, Hughes Dry Goods bought out the shoe store and turned it into a mercantile establishment.

During this same time, the old Normal School, now Northwestern State University, opened its doors, and in accordance with an act of the Louisiana Legislature, forced the saloon in the building to close its doors (those swinging shuttered frames that hide the much-imagined intrigue and excitement from curious feminine eyes.) Since the law dictated that alcoholic beverages could not be sold within five miles of a public institution of higher education, this law forced the saloon's closure!

After the gentlemens' club closed, the Hughes store consumed the entire first floor. The completely renovated first floor, now became the show place dedicated to its new purpose. Developers, however, retained the beautiful old polished mirrors reflecting coquettish faces crowned with hats from the millinery department and the shuttered doors sheltering the fitting rooms.

In the spring of 1959, developers renovated the second floor of the Prudhomme Hughes Building to serve as the home of radio station KNOC. In 1965 Natchitoches Broadcasting Co. put the first FM broadcast station in Natchitoches on the air, KDBH. Both of these stations shared studios and offices on the second floor of the Prudhomme Hughes Building.

During the 1959 renovation, builders reworked the delicate iron railings on the front and rear galleries and the two beautiful staircases on the back to restore the original architecture to its former grace. They re-did or made exact duplicates to replace the distinctive hardware, locks and hinges, on the tall doors and windows opening onto either gallery.

Through the years, the Prudhomme Hughes Building on Front Street accommodated many different types of enterprise. Yet it continues as a splendid reminder of the unique spirit and intrinsic beauty of Old Natchitoches.