The Walker Mansion

2503 St. Charles Avenue: Residence of Ms. Deborah Vinson

The original parcel of land was from St. Charles to Carondelet Street bordered by Second and Third Streets and was acquired for $3,100. In the succession of Col. Walker's estate, the property was left to his heirs, Mrs. Margaret B.C.Walker, his wife, and his mother, Mrs. Angeline Walker, in 1893. His wife remarried and thus the "M" on the beveled front door for Mrs. Margaret B. C. Walker-Mehle.

The Victorian residence features the asymmetrical plan and decorative details typical of the Queen Anne period. Single siding, sunburst brackets on the front porch and elaborate jigsaw work as well as the conical steep-pitched roof are all indicative of the period. Although originally built as a single family home on property that extended to Carondelet Street at the rear, over the years the home was converted to as many as nine tenement apartments. The iron fence surrounding the home is original with minor modifications. The ceilings on the first floor are sixteen feet and fourteen feet on the second floor. Cove molding throughout is original but decorative medallions and trim were removed. Other original details of the home are the doors, wainscoating, staircase trim and Delft fireplace hearths and surrounds. The second street entrance was originally at the dining room as indicated by the wrought iron fence.

Miss Vinson, who purchased the property in 2001 and carried out a total restoration, received the Merit award from the New Orleans District Landmarks Commission in 2003. When it was purchased in 2001 there were no sinks, toilets, tubs or running water. The original staircase was found behind a glass brick wall that was perhaps constructed in the 1940's. The entire infrastructure was installed, including plumbing and electric. Today the home is Miss Vinson's primary residence with the old servants quarters in the rear converted to guest quarters today.

Joseph Walker, a native of Montreal, first came to New Orleans in 1860, at the age of 18. Within a decade he had opened his own bank with profits from his gambling enterprises, and soon after he became manager of the Crescent Billiard Hall. Walker was the one of the colorful, swashbuckling capitalists who became influential in the Garden District in the decades after the panic of 1873. Walker was one of the most important patrons of the architect Thomas Sully.

Sully started his own firm in 1883 at the age of 28. Henry Howard had just designed his last building, Reynolds was dead, and James Freret was the only architect who presented any major competition. Before long, Sully was the most prominent architect in New Orleans, boasting a client list that included many of the city's wealthy and influential figures. Sully expressed the brash optimism of characters like Walker with mansions that reflected his clients'wealth by their size. He introduced third floors to the Garden District, and crowned them with steep pitched roofs and towers. Ms. Vinson's residence at 2503 St. Charles is a wonderful illustration of these features, and it remains one of the most important specimens of Sully's work in New Orleans.

The Society

Membership

Underwriting

Faulkner-Wisdom
Competition

Juleps in June

Words & Music

W&M Faculty

W&M Schedule

W&M Pricing

Krewe of Libris

The Double Dealer

BLOG

Links

Return to Main Page