Oldest Plaq. structure traces Louisiana life from 18th & 19th century Planters’ Families to 20th Century Gathering Place of Preservationists and Naturalists

Mary Plantation, in Braithwaite, is surrounded by rare tropical greenery. It is the oldest structure in Plaquemines Parish.

Mary Plantation House, a French Creole Planter’s Home, built c.1795, expanded c.1827 and fully restored in 1954, is the oldest structure in Plaquemines Parish and will be up for auction on March 10. 

Mary is to be sold at an absolute auction, an auction in which there is no minimum or reserve. Once the auction begins, Mary Plantation will sell regardless of price. Following the auction of the Plantation House, the contents of the home featuring items from the collection of Antiquarian and Preservationist Blaine Murrell McBurney will be auctioned. 

History

The Mary Plantation House, built in the distinctive French Creole style, is listed on The National Register of Historic Places and was recorded for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the house was the center of an agricultural village and home to generations of planters’ families.

 The structure suffered from neglect until the mid-twentieth century when Eric and Marguerite Knobloch purchased and restored the house to its original beauty, adding modern amenities and surrounding it with an incredible collection of rare tropical greenery. 

Dating from the late 1940’s, Mary as a well-known and beloved gathering place for Louisiana preservationists and naturalists. The Knobloch’s hosted tours, picnics, parties and bird watching expeditions for nature and history lovers, as well as the Louisiana Landmarks Society, Patio Planters and Spring Fiesta, among other organizations. During this period, Mary was the destination of choice for hundreds who happily boarded buses to enjoy a country afternoon downriver in Plaquemines Parish. 

Today, Mary Plantation is situated on more than seven acres of high ground along the Mississippi River near a grove of ancient oaks and includes a substantial two-storied edifice, a guest house and the original farm outbuilding. 

Auction

The auction is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, noon, on site, 5539 Highway 39, Braithwaite LA, 70040.

To register to bid, a cashier’s check in the amount of $50,000 made payable to the bidder, or a personal or company check accompanied by a Bank Letter of Guaranty will be required. Broker participation is invited and welcomed. Property tours are available onsite beginning March 6 through auction day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For further details regarding the auction, contact Michelle Leckert or Bettine Carroll at Neal Auction Company 800. 467.5329 or 504.899.5329.