Old Brick House (Biloxi, Mississippi)
Encyclopedia
The Old Brick House, also known as Biloxi Garden Center, was built around 1850 as a modest family home by John Henley, a former sheriff and mayor of Biloxi. The house is situated on Back Bay in Biloxi, Mississippi
. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973. Although heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina
in 2005, the house was restored and re-dedicated in 2011.
government as a land grant
in 1784.
When John Henley built the house, he used heart-pine
lumber for the flooring and three layers of brick in the outer walls. The stout, brick construction allowed the structure to survive through 150 years of hurricanes and storm surges. The house is one of the oldest buildings in Biloxi.
The house had become neglected in the mid-1950s, but was salvaged by Biloxi Garden Clubs and was acquired by the City of Biloxi to serve as a museum and a venue for receptions and public gatherings.
In 2005, the house was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina when it was inundated with seven feet (2.1 m) of water from the storm surge. But, the structure survived and was restored to be historically accurate. As of 2011, the Old Brick House was one of only two antebellum homes still standing in Biloxi.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973. Although heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005, the house was restored and re-dedicated in 2011.
History
The house was built on property acquired by Jean Baptiste Carquotte from the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
government as a land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
in 1784.
When John Henley built the house, he used heart-pine
Fatwood
Fatwood, also known as "fat lighter," "lighter wood", "rich lighter", "pine knot","heart pine" or "lighter'd" , is derived from the heartwood of pine trees. This resin-impregnated heartwood becomes hard and rot-resistant. The stump left in the ground after a tree has fallen or has been cut is an...
lumber for the flooring and three layers of brick in the outer walls. The stout, brick construction allowed the structure to survive through 150 years of hurricanes and storm surges. The house is one of the oldest buildings in Biloxi.
The house had become neglected in the mid-1950s, but was salvaged by Biloxi Garden Clubs and was acquired by the City of Biloxi to serve as a museum and a venue for receptions and public gatherings.
In 2005, the house was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina when it was inundated with seven feet (2.1 m) of water from the storm surge. But, the structure survived and was restored to be historically accurate. As of 2011, the Old Brick House was one of only two antebellum homes still standing in Biloxi.