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Milton H. Latter Memorial Library (Marks Isaacs House)

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1906–1907, Favrot and Livaudais. 5120 St. Charles Ave.
  • (Photograph by Lake Douglas)
  • (Photograph by Lake Douglas)

Occupying an entire block and raised on an embankment, this stone house was constructed for Canal Street merchant Marks Isaacs. After his death, the house was sold in 1912 to lumber baron Frank B. Williams and was occupied by his son, pioneer aviator Harry Williams, who was married to silent-movie star Marguerite Clark. After Harry Williams died in a plane crash in 1936, Clark sold the house to racetrack entrepreneur Robert Eddy, who in turn sold it to Harry and Anna Latter in 1947. They donated it to the City for use as a public library in memory of their son, Milton, who was killed in World War II. Although interior changes were made for library needs, the homelike atmosphere and materials were retained, including the mahogany paneling, staircase, and dining-room mantel and ceiling murals. When built, the house possessed one of the city’s first home elevators, and a ballroom occupied the third floor. A separate carriage house is at the rear of the property.

Writing Credits

Author: 
Karen Kingsley and Lake Douglas
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Data

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Citation

Karen Kingsley and Lake Douglas, "Milton H. Latter Memorial Library (Marks Isaacs House)", [New Orleans, Louisiana], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/LA-02-OR165.

Print Source

buildings of new orleans book

Buildings of New Orleans, Karen Kingsley and Lake Douglas. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018, 194-194.

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