National Register Listing

Helvetia Dependency

LA 942, Darrow, LA

The Helvetia Dependency is locally significant in the area of architecture within the context of Louisiana's River Road region because it contains rare examples of Creole and Federal woodwork. Although it is unfortunate that the building has suffered some losses to its integrity, the historic fabric and details which remain mark the Helvetia Dependency as an important example of these two architectural styles.

The area comprising the east and west banks of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is known as the Great River Road. Although recognized primarily for its collection of grand Greek Revival plantation houses, this region was first settled by French Creoles whose surviving domestic architecture rivals in importance the later Greek Revival homes. One of the distinguishing features of these Creole houses was the French wraparound mantel, which in the earliest and finest of the Creole homes was accompanied by a decorated overmantel. Today, only a limited number of pre-Civil War Creole houses survive, and the number of Creole houses containing wraparound mantels with decorative overmantels is extremely small. The Division of Historic Preservation knows of only six houses in the region in which wraparound mantels with decorative overmantels survive. The Helvetia Dependency is one of these rare, early, and finely crafted Creole survivors. In addition, the Dependency is special because its woodwork is in the Federal style. Examples of this style are equally rare within the houses on the River Road. The Helvetia Dependency's delicate denticulated cornice, reeded overmantel pilasters, and oval and circular mantel sunbursts definitely place the dwelling within this rare category. Indeed, it is unusual to find such fine Federal woodwork in a house the size of the Helvetia Dependency.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1992.