The Aldrich-Genella House: A Rare Piece of New Orleans History, Waiting to be Brought Back to Life

A Second Empire Gem

A rare Second Empire gem on a beautiful stretch of St. Charles Avenue, the elegant Aldrich-Genella House, a majesty of renaissance revival architecture, is listed on the national register of historic places. According to listing agent, Rêve Realtor® Lauren Smith, it’s patiently waiting for a visionary owner to lovingly return it to its full glory. It’s the kind of home that exudes old world appeal from an oversized gated lot at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Bordeaux Street.

A Storied Past

Originally part of a plantation, the plot of land the home sits upon was in the West Bouligny faubourg. The plot was purchased in 1866 by Daniel Cummings Aldrich, and he and his wife Susan Adams (Reveley) contracted Thomas Wright to build a large Greek Revival style home with double galleries and double parlors for $9,285. The house was built in 1866.

In 1878, Joseph Hernandez and his wife Rosema (D’Aunoy) purchased the home, and updated it in the French Second Empire style, adding the staircase tower, the third floor, and the signature mansard roof. Charles and Mary Louise (Kennedy) Genella bought the home in 1895. They lived in it for many years with their large family, while their children were active socialites, studied at Newcomb College and Tulane University, and went on to earn Master’s degrees, practice medicine, and advocate for women’s voting rights.

Over the years, the home was the site of weddings, funerals, debutante parties, and every imaginable societal function. And for many years, it even served as a military-style preparatory school for boys.

A Vision of What Could Be

With Historic District Landmarks Commission-approved exterior plans by Koch and Wilson architects, permitting in place, and all of the home’s original materials included in the sale, the home offers a solid path forward for restoration and an enviable 5600 square feet of living space for renovation.

With no historic restrictions for the interior space, the new owner will have an exclusive opportunity to marry the existing grandeur with a flexible, modern floor plan. Gorgeous renderings were created to show the potential of this amazing home and offer a creative vision of what could be.

The home is quite large at 5,600 square feet, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The yard is 100 feet wide, and the home also includes a pool, guest house, and from the third-floor tower you can see New Orleans’ skyline.

Potential buyers across the country have been intrigued by the possibilities – from Miami to Los Angeles and everywhere in between – and are drawn to New Orleans and this property for its unique architectural charm. But the opportunity to own this noteworthy piece of history, home to many influential New Orleans families, is still available. 

An Homage to New Orleans

Says Lauren Smith, “This could be one of the most stunning homes in New Orleans, and it would be such a gift to the city  — an homage, really — to bring it back to life. Thousands of people pass by it every day, on one of the most picturesque avenues in the world. It will take someone with means and a philanthropic heart, but they will fall in love with this grand dame and find the restoration and renovation process rewarding beyond measure.”

To learn more and schedule a tour, contact Lauren Smith.