By James Turner

It is exciting to realize the ripples and waves of history.  This house, that you see in the painting above, was built beginning in 1855.  Doctor Edmond Ellison Smart and his bride, Harriett “Hattie” Neal Smart, moved into the house, still under construction, in August of 1858.

Can you imagine how sobering it was for these youngsters?  The house was a “Four Square Georgian” with a wing off to the south, (to your left in the painting).  The wing later became the “Kitchen House” at 501 East Lula.  On the right side of the painting, in the distance, is the Capital of the Courthouse built in 1910, some 55 years later.  In fact, Hattie’s house, here at 301 South 1st Street, preceded the establishment of Vernon Parish and the City of Leesville by 15 years.

Architecturally, it is impressive.  A steep pyramidal roof (originally covered in wooden shingles) with two distinctive Chimneys set well above the shingles, served four identical rooms (17′ 4″ X 17′ 4″ ).  The attic soared over the house with its separate 12- foot ceiling.  This allowed the hot air to rise. The gallery or porch runs around the house shading the walls from the bright Louisiana sunlight.  Raising the floor on brick piers allowed cool air to circulate and moisture to minimize its stuffy and mildew laden effects.  On the porch, too, are the Italianate Columns with their nod to the fashion of mid-century architecture.

We’ll enjoy more about the old house in Vernon Parish Journals to come, but for now it’s enough to be proud of one of the Parish’s jewels, the Smart Plantation House.