Built in the 1800s, this Mississippi mansion was the last of its kind on the Coast

Elmwood Manor, once among the oldest structures in Bay St. Louis possessed a history that set it apart from any other home along the Gulf Coast.

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, it held the distinction of being the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s most prominent surviving example of the French Colonial architectural style.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed the mansion that was located on the beach in the Cedar Point neighborhood, but the building’s history spans back centuries.

Historical Background

The land upon which Elmwood Manor once stood was chartered by the Spanish during their brief period of control over the Mississippi Coast in the late 1700s. After the Revolutionary War, Spain actively encouraged settlers to move to the coastal region, enticing them with promises of land so long as they cultivated them.

According to the Hancock County Historical Society, Louis Alexis Lassassier is believed to have acquired the property from the Spanish during this era and began construction of the house around 1803.

The most prevalent narrative is that after his passing in 1823, his widow, Melite Macarty Lassassier, took possession of the land even as the house was still under construction. Sometime between 1826 and 1829, she sold it to Jesse Cowand, who is thought to have completed construction of the house soon after.

However, a conflicting historical account asserts that Cowand purchased the property, along with a small cottage, from Lassassier around 1803. This account suggests he began construction of Elmwood Manor before leaving to fight in the War of 1812, later returning to Bay St. Louis to resume construction.

The exact sequence of events, whether Cowand or Lassassier began construction of the house and when, remains unknown.

Either way, Cowand had served in Beale’s Company, Orleans Riflemen during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Cowand was one of the few of his company to survive a British ambush, though he spent some time as a prisoner of war before being repatriated.

From the completion of the house and the American Civil War, it functioned as a plantation that produced Sea Island cotton as the primary crop.

Cowand made Elmwood Manor his home until his passing in 1852, at which point ownership transferred to his widow, Elizabeth. However, Elizabeth passed away shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War, while several of their children left to join the Confederate Army.

Over the next century and a half, the house and property changed hands several times. At some point, it came to be known as Elmwood Manor, though it is uncertain as to why.

Elmwood Manor

Elmwood Manor was a sturdy and beautiful 2 1/2 story building, with its most distinctive features being the large brick pillars and its steep pyramidal hip roof. Unlike downstairs, the upstairs galleries were supported by wooden pillars that rested on wooden pedestals.

As documented in its National Registry historical records, the hip roof was adorned with gabled dormers, which contained recessed, round-arched windows with engaged colonettes. French colonial plantation homes such as this were traditionally built without hallways.

While the building displayed a French colonial-style appearance, its upper galleries also featured a Caribbean island aesthetic that took inspiration from Spanish and French influences. Double sets of French doors allowed access from the upstairs rooms onto the galleries.

Residing on a spacious plot of land that faced the beach with several grand trees in the yard, Elmwood Manor was one of the most visually impressive structures on the entire coast.

During the 20th century, an additional gallery was constructed at the back of the house, and the bricks were coated with new paint. Despite these alterations and other renovations, the residence managed to preserve a significant portion of its original colonial charm.

A Historical Landmark

Efforts were made to include Elmwood Manor in the National Registry in 1980 based on its unique and historical architecture, but its district was not listed. Subsequently, there was a proposition to register it as an individual entity in 1986, which the owner initially declined. In November of that year, the house was successfully listed.

As the 20th century drew to a close, Elmwood Manor—now officially recognized by that name—stood as the largest and most well-preserved structure from the early 19th century along the Mississippi Coast. Additionally, it remained one of the rare few that still retained its authentic French colonial architectural style.

Regrettably, Hurricane Katrina destroyed Elmwood Manor entirely in 2005, erasing one of the final and most well-preserved remnants of the colonial era.

In 2014, a historical marker was installed near the former property’s location, situated close to the intersection of North Beach Boulevard and Boardman Avenue in Bay St. Louis.