Joseph Seraphin House - Ste. Genevieve, Missouri - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

"Joseph Seraphin House. 74 Seraphin Street., c. 1826. Property type: French vertical log house. This two-story, vertical log, gable-roofed building, measuring 26 feet 3 inches across the front by 30 feet 1 inch deep, is set on a stone foundation. A series of rear ells and additions adjoin the main block of the house. The main block is three bays wide. A shed-roofed porch extends the width of the north facade. Fenestration consists of replacement, six-over-six, double hung, sash windows. The facade wall of the house is stuccoed while the remaining walls are sheathed in wood siding, and the roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles. A brick chimney projects from the center of the roof ridge. The original house was constructed on a series of stone piers. Later the space between the piers was infilled with additional stone. A cellar was excavated and concrete walls installed inside the original stone foundation.

According to researchers, this small two-room house is the only surviving 1 1/2 story Creole house in Ste. Genevieve originally built with an upper story. 129 Its vertical, white oak posts rise unbroken from the sill to the eaves. The logs used in its construction are considerably smaller than those in a typical French house. These logs are mortised into the sill. The outer flat surface is covered with clapboards, while the inner flat surfaced was covered with plaster. The rafters are vertically sawn, two inches by four inches, with collar beams. The principal entrances to the house are located near the center of the front and rear of the house and a separate entrance at the east end of the house leads to the cellar.

The first floor has a three-room plan: two rooms side by side with shared interior wall carrying a chimney and a single large room running the width of the house at the rear. The attic contains two finished rooms and is accessed by a stairway in the northwest corner of the house. Much of the original fabric of the house is intact including the walnut and oak wall logs, puncheon floor joists, and the original wide, random width, floorboards. The latter are presently covered by a contemporary floor. The original roof framing system still remains. In 1983, the house was renovated. These renovations included installation of insulation and new windows.

Joseph Seraphin was a documented early owner of the property. In 1826, the property was sold to Antoine Racola, a free African American. Prior to Racola's ownership, the only buildings on the lot were indicated as three or four cabins, so it is believed that the house was built during Racola's ownership. In 1873, the property passed from the Racola family to John L. Bogy at auction."  ~ Historic District National Register Nomination Form

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1826 Architectural Period/Style: French Colonial Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Village house Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: None known Listed Building Status (if applicable): Contributing building to National Landmark Historic District Main Material of Construction: Vertical log house Private/Public Access: Private Opening Hours (if applicable): From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Additional Dates of Construction: Not listed Architect (if known): Not listed Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed Admission Fee (if applicable): Not Listed

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