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The historic La Maison de Guibourd is an example of the
French Creole poteaux-sur-solle (post-on-sill) construction method which
French settlers brought over their native Normandy in northern France.
In this method upright hewn logs are seated on a horizontal log sill and
the spaces between the logs are sealed with bouzillage, usually a
mixture of clay and grass. This type of construction is different from
the more familiar horizontal Anglo-American style. While this type of
construction was the preferred method for the French in colonial Middle
Mississippi River Valley and eastern Canada, remaining examples of it
are quite rare with only about thirty buildings of this type left in
North America. Although the home has been changed over the years by a
succession of different owners, it still retains much of its original
design. The home originally had 'galleries' (or wide porches) that
completely surrounded the house to keep the interior cool in the summer,
but only the front and rear remain today. A slave quarters and kitchen
were added a few years after the house was originally built. Unlike most
kitchens during the colonial time period that were separate buildings
because of fire safety concerns, the kitchen at La Maison de Guibourd
was built in a ‘semi-attached’ fashion, under one corner of the porch.
La Maison de Guibourd has one of the only ‘original’ kitchen structures
and slave quarters of this time period in Sainte Genevieve. The historic
house includes beautifully landscaped gardens and accessible views of
the unique Norman truss (king post) roof system on the second floor.
The home was built by Jacques Guibord who arrived in
Sainte Genevieve sometime in the late 1790s. Guibord was born in Anger,
France and became a secretary to a wealthy plantation owner in Saint
Domingue. During the slave rebellion in 1791 he was smuggled out of the
country in a cargo barrel by his slave, Moros. Jacques and Moros made
their way back to France. In France Jacques and Moros witnessed the
Reign of Terror, a period of violence that occurred after the onset of
the French Revolution in 1793 that was marked by mass executions of
"enemies of the revolution," and decided to emigrate to America. There
is some evidence that Jacques and Moros were shipwrecked during that
voyage and that resulted in the two losing all their belongings. It has
been noted that when Jacques arrived in Sainte Genevieve he was penniless.
In 1799, Jacques obtained a Spanish land grant for the entire block (2 arpents X 2 arpents, 1 arpent = 192 feet) on which La Maison de Guibourd
currently stands. While the house was being built, Jacques opened a
mercantile and sold goods to villagers from his residence just across
the street from La Maison de Guibourd. Copies of his merchant’s ledger
shows what he sold, to whom, how much the items cost and how the items
were paid for. In June 1800 he married Ursula Barbeau and quickly became
involved in the affairs of the town. He served as a judge on the
territorial district court and was a Commissioner of Rates and Levies
for the Sainte Genevieve District. Jacques was one of the original
trustees of the Sainte Genevieve Louisiana Academy, the first institute of
higher education west of the Mississippi River.
When Jacques in 1812 his estate was divided among his
sons with Omar and Jules getting the southern half that included the
house and Eugene getting the northern half. In 1907, the the southern
half of the property was sold to Clovis G. Boyer who in turn sold the
house to Jules Felix and Anne Marie Vallé in 1935. When Anne Marie died
in 1973 she left the house and property to the Foundation for
Restoration of Sainte Genevieve. Currently the interior is elegantly
furnished with a collection of antiques from the 18th and 19th century
that were collected by Anne Marie. The Foundation for Restoration of
Sainte Genevieve is in the process of transforming the home back so that
it reflects the time period of Jacques Guibord. The Foundation for
Restoration of Sainte Genevieve, Inc., a non-profit organization, and
tours are conducted year round by costumed docents. Group tours are
welcome and a gift shop is located on the premises.
Visiting the
La Maison de
Guibord
Visiting Hours
April - November
Tuesday - Friday: 12 pm - 5 pm
Saturday & Holidays: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm - 5 pm
December - March
Saturday & Sunday: 12 pm - 5 pm
Admission: $4 for adults and $2 for
students
Directions: The
La Maison de Guibourd
is located in the historic district of Sainte
Genevieve. From the Sainte
Genevieve exit on I-55 (exit 150) take MO-32 east for 5 miles to the
four way stop light at MO-61.
Continue straight through the stop light crossing Hwy 61 and proceed
across the railroad tracks to the four way stop sign, which is Market
Street.
Continue straight one
block to
La Maison de Guibourd.
 Learn more about the Sainte Genevieve
area.
www.historicstegen.org
- The official site of the Foundation for Restoration of Sainte Genevieve which operates the
La Maison de Guibourd
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