Steamboat House - New Iberia, LA
N 30° 00.068 W 091° 48.621
15R E 614741 N 3319507
Private residence, located on historic East Main Street in New Iberia. Also known as Emmer-Hughes House.
Waymark Code: WM8H79
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 04/03/2010
Views: 4
Fine private residence, really pleasant to enjoy. Located along and within the East Main Street Historic District. East Main Street is also Louisiana Highway 182. There are numerous fine homes located along East Main Street. From the State of Louisiana Register application comes this great history of previous owners! Page is located here it states: The home's commercial significance arises from its association with its builder John Emmer
and his son-in-law George Lebau. Emmer was the well-to-do businessman and farmer--owner of a
brickyard and of a fairly large amount of local real estate. He also drilled the first two oil wells in
Iberia Parish, although they were unsuccessful. The bricks from the Emmer brickyard were used in
the construction of many buildings in and around New Iberia. George Lebau, who along with his wife
owned the home during 1903-1912 and 1914-1937, was a prominent local businessman who served
as president and chairman of the board of New Iberia National Bank. (The foregoing information on
the home's commercial significance is from the Dr. Hughes' interviews with Andrew Emmer and
Wiltz Emmer, grandsons of John Emmer.)
The home's political significance arises from its association with two of its owners--the
builder John Emmer, who was mayor of New Iberia from 1889-1891, and Dr. Paul N. Cyr
(1878-1946), a significant figure in state politics during the Huey Long era. According to Cyr's
children, he spent much time at the Steamboat House during the years he owned it, although it was
not his primary residence. Cyr ran for lieutenant-governor on Long's ticket in 1928 and was elected.
But a feud soon developed between the two, beginning in 1929 when Long refused to recommend
that the sentence of a Dr. Dreher be commuted from death to life imprisonment. Cyr from then on
was "a dangerous enemy" to Long, obstructing his legislative program in his capacity as presiding
officer of the senate, for example. Cyr was a major reason why Huey continued on as governor after
winning election to the U. S. Senate in 1930. Had he resigned, Cyr would have had fourteen months
on his own as governor. "Paul Cyr will never be governor of this state for one minute" became one of
Long's favorite sayings. Cyr mounted a campaign for governor in 1932 but soon withdrew to support
another candidate. Also in 1932, he tried to force Huey out of office with a lawsuit but was
unsuccessful.
Street address: 623 E. Main St. New Iberia, LA USA 70560
County / Borough / Parish: Iberia
Year listed: 1979
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924
Historic function: Domestic. Sub - Single Dwelling
Current function: Domestic. Sub - Single Dwelling
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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