Frame Creole Cottage from the 1840s in the Vieux Carré section of New Orleans. To the right is the Carmelite Chapel of St. Joseph and St. Teresa and the Carmelite Monastery. Across the street is Cabrini Park. So charming, I can just see Fred Ende living in such a home before he ventured forth looking for excitement. But it’s nice he came to Greenville.
Fred Ende was one of the most loved; most respected and honored persons ever to live in Greenville. He was the epitome of a true gentleman. Mr. Ende arrived in Greenville about 1856 from New Orleans where he emigrated from Germany in the 1840s.
As a young man in New Orleans, Fred Ende worked as a street sweeper. Before Thanksgiving my husband and I went to New Orleans to visit a special person we know. That was when I learned that being a street sweeper was an integral part of living in a city in the early 19th century. You see, street sweepers still cruise the Vieux Carré, only now they are motorized instead of manual.
Our host owns a house about as far away from Bourbon and Canal Streets as one can get and still remain in the French Quarter. Built around 1840 it is a classic example of period residential architecture. Originally the house consisted of four rooms downstairs and one room in a half-story above. In the center of the house were two chimneys. The front one opened into two rooms downstairs. The other chimney served the kitchen, one more room downstairs and the entire upper level.
The front of the old Creole Cottage sits right on the sidewalk that is in constant use during the day. It is possible to open the shutters and French doors to allow the breeze to filter through. Our host has wrought iron gates in front of all the openings to prevent strangers from walking in and the dog from walking out. Cars can park on one side of the street for a limited amount of time.
Our host is in the process of refurbishing the cottage. This is a Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) has stringent rules to preserve these old buildings and it seems to be working well. While talking to a young man in a splendid bookstore I found near St. Louis Cathedral, I learned that the VCC holds all records connected with every structure in the French Quarter. The New Orleans Historical Collection operates a museum near the cathedral that maintains their own collection.
The bookstore was amazing. Located in the foyer of William Faulkner’s home when he lived in New Orleans, it is tiny but bursting at the seams with wonderful old and new books. I only purchased three books as we flew down and I had limited space in my carry-on bag.
Our host has a small backyard with an absolutely huge crepe myrtle tree and a leaky fountain. But it was so relaxing. Banana trees and azaleas completed the garden. Across the street is Cabrini Park, filled with children playing, neighbors visiting, and dogs romping about.
Fred Ende left New Orleans to travel up the Mississippi River seeking adventure. At a stop in the village of Greenville he decided to remain and become a merchant. By 1857 he returned to the city to marry his sweetheart. They honeymooned on the return to his store. The house he built here is somewhat reminiscent of Creole Cottages in New Orleans with four rooms downstairs and a large room in the attic.
Incidentally, Mr. and Mrs. Ende made frequent trips back to the Crescent City. I know why.