Le Lafayette Restaurant, The Chimneys
You are here
Billiken’s Smokehouse at The Chimneys
c. 1771. 623 Caroline St.
-
(Photograph by Mark Mones) -
(Photograph by Mark Mones) -
(Photograph by Mark Mones) -
(Photograph by Mark Mones)
Caroline Street (known as Main Street from c. 1880 to c. 1960) from the 500 block through the 1000 block is a vital commercial street. As part of the city's enlightened planning, doctors' and lawyers' offices have not been allowed to congregate, and many buildings still have shops at street level and living quarters above.
The large five-bay house named for prominent chimneys that act as sculptural embellishments against the wooden clapboard was constructed for John Glassell, who returned to his native Scotland when the Revolution broke out. The interiors are impressive, especially the southwest parlor, where the woodwork includes carved swags and garlands on the chimneypiece and latticework friezes. The house was saved by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, which sold it with covenants to a restaurant.
Writing Credits
If SAH Archipedia has been useful to you, please consider supporting it.
SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning.