Last night was very sad for Preservationists in Cenla. The Thompson-Hargis home was irreparably destroyed by fire. At this time we know that it started in the back of the house and according to KALB, the cause was arson perpetuated by a 13 year old girl. An arrest has been made.
A security guard has been posted at the house remains to deter vandalism until a future disposition of the house can be determined by the family. Built in 1907 (some documents I have say 1902) without the benefit of a house plan by B.F. Thompson, a Canadian, the Thompson-Hargis mansion survived a total of 105 years until its historic reign was brought to an untimely end on September 9, 2012. Rivaling the beautiful and well preserved mansions on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, this mansion was the last one of its kind in Alexandria.
Mansion Row, as it is locally named, will not be the same. RIP grand lady.
The above pictures were taken via iPhone as it was unfolding. For pictures taken this morning, click here to be redirected to the WeSawThat blog.
P.S. I wrote a short post spotlighting this property in 2008 and made the comment that it would not last much longer in the state that it was presently in. It has been a top post for the past two days, understandably so. I am sad that this was a fulfilled prophecy. 😦
Perpetual Renovator 