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14 June 2008
"Be very careful. It's old and it's gloomy and it's...it's not perhaps what it seems...It's not a grand
house at all. It's some sort of domicile for something. It's a trap, you might say. It's made up of all sorts of patterns.
And the patterns form a sort of trap." Gerald Mayfair's words of warning to Rowan, WH pg. 805, Mass Market 1993 and Amazon
Kindle Editions
While browsing, I came across these plans for the First Street house in Lives of
the Mayfair Witches. It is known in New Orleans as the Brevard-Clapp-Rice house and is about as old in real life as
it is in the books. Take a look...
The Front of First Street
The house is sometimes called "Rosegate", supposedly for the rose patterns worked into the iron curlicues
in the gate. A fitting name for such a beautiful home, I think.
And now, with these same plans as a guide, I am building a 3D model of 1239 First Street in SketchUp Pro. The Egyptian keyhole
doorway of the house is actually recessed, which is now reflected in the model of the house that I'm building.
This doorway, for its symbolism, also appears at the top of the Mayfair tomb. The first model of the Egyptian Keyhole doorway
is perfect for that project.
To see progress on the 3D model of 1239 First Street, you will find that on this page of the Parlor:
Come Into My Parlor in 3D
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The First Floor of First Street
I have never been able to find a floor plan for the second and third floors/attic space of 1239 First
Street. Hopefully, the images of the house's interior that are up include photographs of at least two of the bedrooms. If
not, there will be soon!
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The Keyhole Doorway
NEW! See animations of the 3D model I built of the Egyptian Keyhole door on Come Into
My Parlor In 3D:
The Egyptian Keyhole Door In 3D
It is here, at the keyhole doorway, that a vital clue to Lasher and the true legacy of the Mayfair
Witches lies. Rowan is the key and the house is the doorway through which Lasher will "come through", making his goal
of being in the flesh a reality. Michael Curry is puzzled by the bas-relief of this same door way on the Mayfair Crypt
and realizes, perhaps too late, that the twelve crypts with the doorway as the thirteenth portal, is a symbol of Rowan's twelve
ancestresses and of Rowan as the thirteenth witch, the Doorway of Lasher.
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The Garden Side of First Street
The side facing the garden where Antha "jumped" to her death, but we now know she was pushed by Carlotta
in a desperate attempt to stop Lasher.
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Authentic New Orleans
Anne Rice bought the Brevard-Clapp house, reputed to be haunted, upon her return to New Orleans in
the late 1980's. The house that was initially to be the setting for The Witching Hour was originally blocks away,
but upon Rice's taking up residence at First Street, this changed. The house, in its real history, has changed owners
throughout the years, but during Rice's residence, it was featured in Lee Bailey's New Orleans, a cookbook of recipes
that are part of what makes New Orleans famous for its cuisine and entertainment.
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By far, Mouldings One has the largest sizes of the plans of the house, and in excellent quality. The
detail is very clear. For those of you who build or create 3D models and graphics, the size and quality of the plans on this
site will be extremely helpful.
Sketchup open right now...
Brevard-Rice House on Mouldings One
Click the Adobe Acrobat folder to read an
historical document on 1239 First Street from 1964 (PDF)
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The former home of Anne Rice and the house of the Mayfair Witches has been sold a time
or two in recent years. Its list price was about $3.7 million just before it sold in or about 2009. I have retained the realtor
listing details as further information on the house itself.
You can also scroll down to the end of this page to see the listing photos of the house that I have also retained.
Listing One
Features
of First Street
Main Features
|
| List Price: |
$3,700,000 |
| MLS Number: |
729921 |
1239 FIRST ST
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130 |
| Property Type: |
Single Family |
| Bedrooms: |
5 |
| Full Bathrooms: |
6 |
| Half Bathrooms: |
2 |
| Status: |
Active | | |
|
Listing Description
|
| CIRCA
1850s, THIS GORGEOUS GREEK
REVIVIAL IS THE FORMER HOME TO
AUTHOR ANNERICE. DOUBLE GALLERIES W/MASSIVE ANTIQUE BEVELED MIRRORS,
EXQUISITE PLATEDCEILINGS,
GORGEOUS MILLWORK, ANTIQUE MURALS IN
DINING, ELEVATOR, NEWLY RENOVATED KITCHEN, AND MORE. LUSH GROUNDS
W/MAINTAINED GARDENS,
LARGE HEATED POOL/CABANA, FISH
POND,STAFF HOUSE, MORE. ASK AGENT ABOUT MINIMUM 1-YEAR LEASE OR
SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTY. EXCLUDED:
FRONT CHANDELIER. |
|
General Features
|
|
|
| Parking Type |
|
|
| Stories |
|
|
| Style |
|
| | |
|
Building Features
|
| Additional Features |
|
|
| Air Conditioning |
|
|
| Appliances Included |
|
|
| Approx Living Area |
|
| |
| Exterior |
|
|
| Exterior Features |
|
|
| Heating |
|
| |
| |
| Room Features |
|
None listed |
|
Property Features
|
| Gas Type |
|
|
| Lot Description |
|
|
| Sewer Type |
|
| Taken from Re/Max Louisiana |
| |
CIRCA
1850s, THIS GORGEOUS GREEK REVIVIAL IS THE FORMER HOME TO AUTHOR ANNE
RICE. DOUBLE GALLERIES
W/MASSIVE ANTIQUE BEVELED MIRRORS,
EXQUISITE PLATED CEILINGS, GORGEOUS MILLWORK, ANTIQUE MURALS IN DINING,
ELEVATOR, NEWLY
RENOVATED KITCHEN, AND MORE. LUSH
GROUNDS W/MAINTAINED GARDENS, LARGE HEATED POOL/CABANA, FISH POND,STAFF
HOUSE, MORE. ASK
AGENT ABOUT MINIMUM 1-YEAR LEASE OR
SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTY. EXCLUDED: FRONT CHANDELIER. | Property Features |
-
Single Family Property
- Status: Active
- Area: New Orleans/Garden District (65)
- County: New Orleans
- 5 total bedroom(s)
- 7 total bath(s)
- 6 total full bath(s)
- 2 total half bath(s)
- Approximately 8910 sq. ft.
- Three story
|
- Style: Traditional
- Master bedroom
- Living room
- Dining room
- Kitchen
- Den
- Laundry room
- Master bedroom is 19.5 x 18.0, Upper
Level
- Living room is 18.1 x 42.5, Wood Floor,
Lower Level
- Dining room is 19.5 x 18.0, Wood Floor,
Lower Level
|
- Kitchen is 14.5 x 15.2, Wood Floor, Lower Level
- Den is 21.7 x 18.3, Wood Floor, Upper
Level
- Laundry room is 9.0 x 7.5, Lower Level
- Swimming pool(s)
- Central air conditioning
- Central heat
- Roofing: Asphalt
- Approximate lot is 120 x 18.3 x 165
- Existing Structures: Cabana, Guest
House
- Utilities present: Natural Gas, City
Sewer
|
Interior
Features
Elevator,
Security System, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Range/Oven,
Refrigerator,
Bedroom 2 is 19.5 x 18.0, Upper
Level, Bedroom 3 is 22.0 x 18.6, Wood Floor, Upper Level, Bedroom 4 is
18.0 x 22.4, Wood Floor,
Upper Level
Exterior Features
Balcony, Courtyard,
Fence, Pond, Porch, Inground Pool
Listing Information
Refreshed at 11:23 AM (February 23, 2009) Added
on Feb 11, 2008 (378 days ago)
This listing was brokered by RE/MAX N.O. PROPERTIES
Office: 504-866-7733
Listing Two
Taken from http://www.realtor.com
Schools Near 1239 First Street
Elementary
| SCHOOL
NAME |
SCHOOL
TYPE |
PARENT
RATING |
DISTANCE
(mi) |
TEST RATING |
|
Louise S Mcgehee School
|
Private |
|
0.22 |
- |
|
Cohen High School
Recovery School
District |
Public |
|
0.86 |
- |
|
L E Rabouin High School
Recovery
School District |
Public |
|
1.34 |
- |
|
Academy Of The Sacred Heart
|
Catholic |
|
1.43 |
- |
|
Sojourner Truth Academy
Recovery
School District |
Public |
|
1.49 |
| SCHOOL NAME |
SCHOOL
TYPE |
PARENT
RATING |
DISTANCE
(mi) |
TEST RATING |
|---|
|
Trinity Episcopal School
|
Private |
|
0.2 |
- |
|
Louise S Mcgehee School
|
Private |
|
0.22 |
- |
|
Laurel Elementary School
Recovery
School District |
Public |
|
0.32 |
- |
|
St Alphonsus School
|
Catholic |
|
0.36 |
- |
|
Hill School
|
Private |
|
0.49 |
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Gallery One
 The Staircase
 The Grand
Piano in the Double Parlor
 The Double Parlor
 The Dining Room
 The Kitchen
 The Kitchen
 The Swimming Pool
 The Garden
 Bedroom
 Bedroom
 Master Bedroom
 1239 First Street
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Gallery Two
To the left, there appear to be the accesses to the side porch. Note that the windows in the parlor all
extend to the floor as described in the books. In this case, the accesses are covered with wood shutters and not drapes,
which would not be conducive to using the windows as entrance ways.
Can this be the same Bosendorfer piano mentioned in the books?
This door must go into the butler's pantry. Note the details of the murals on the walls of the Dining
Room. Riverbend must have been some plantation.
A close-up of the crown mouldings and plaster that was an integral part of the design of the interior.
Very beautiful.
The first picture I've found of the kitchen. It doesn't look like it has wooden block counters any longer
since it's been newly renovated. In the door beyond, we see what must be the butler's pantry as the cabinetry looks like
what one would store serving ware in.
This must be one of the gas heaters mentioned in the books. I wonder, from the view at the window, if
this is one of the bedrooms?
Here we can see entrances to the side porch in the glass enclosure. It's better than a screen.
At first I wasn't sure what this was until I saw in various details that the garden featured a pond.
Possibly a koi pond?
Here we have a better collective view of the area surrounding the pool. Note the cabana to the right,
the kitchen wing, and the old servants' quarters beyond.
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The Sims - First Street
The above video by StudioSims Creation is in French, but it is of a model of the
Mayfair house made using Sims 4. It is really beautiful, and includes the Mayfair garden and pool. See if you can match
the plans to the model!
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