House of Patterns: Architectural Plans for First Street

An Open Window, Mayfair Witches, AMC

"Be very careful. It's old and it's gloomy and it's...it's not perhaps what it seems...It's not a grand house at all. It's some sort of domicile for something. It's a trap, you might say. It's made up of all sorts of patterns. And the patterns form a sort of trap."

~Gerald Mayfair's words of warning to Rowan, WH pg. 805, Mass Market 1993 and Amazon Kindle Editions

While browsing, I came across these plans for the First Street house in Lives of the Mayfair Witches. It is known in New Orleans as the Brevard-Clapp-Rice house and is about as old in real life as it is in the books. Take a look...

The Brevard-Clapp House

Anne Rice bought the Brevard-Clapp house, reputed to be haunted, upon her return to New Orleans in the late 1980's. The house that was initially to be the setting for The Witching Hour was originally blocks away, but upon Rice's taking up residence at First Street, this changed. The house, in its real history, has changed owners throughout the years, but during Rice's residence, it was featured in Lee Bailey's New Orleans, a cookbook of recipes that are part of what makes New Orleans famous for its cuisine and entertainment.

The Front of First Street

The house is sometimes called "Rosegate", supposedly for the rose patterns worked into the iron curlicues in the gate. A fitting name for such a beautiful home, I think.

And now, with these same plans as a guide, I am building a 3D model of 1239 First Street in SketchUp Pro. The Egyptian keyhole doorway of the house is actually recessed, which is now reflected in the model of the house that I'm building.

This doorway, for its symbolism, also appears at the top of the Mayfair tomb. The first model of the Egyptian Keyhole doorway is perfect for that project.

To see progress on the 3D model of 1239 First Street, you will find that on this page of the Parlor:

Mayfair Witches in 3D

The First Floor of First Street

I have never been able to find a floor plan for the second and third floors/attic space of 1239 First Street. Hopefully, the images of the house's interior that are up include photographs of at least two of the bedrooms. If not, there will be soon!

The Keyhole Doorway

NEW! See animations of the 3D model I built of the Egyptian Keyhole door on Mayfair Witches in 3D.

It is here, at the keyhole doorway, that a vital clue to Lasher and the true legacy of the Mayfair Witches lies. Rowan is the key and the house is the doorway through which Lasher will "come through", making his goal of being in the flesh a reality. Michael Curry is puzzled by the bas-relief of this same door way on the Mayfair Crypt and realizes, perhaps too late, that the twelve crypts with the doorway as the thirteenth portal, is a symbol of Rowan's twelve ancestresses and of Rowan as the thirteenth witch, the Doorway of Lasher.

1239 First Street Egyptian Keyhole Doorway

The Garden Side of First Street

The side facing the garden where Antha "jumped" to her death, but we now know she was pushed by Carlotta in a desperate attempt to stop Lasher.

By far, Mouldings One has the largest sizes of the plans of the house, and in excellent quality. The detail is very clear. For those of you who build or create 3D models and graphics, the size and quality of the plans on this site will be extremely helpful.

Brevard-Rice House on Mouldings One

See the Library of Congress Public Domain collection for more on the history of the Brevard-Rice house here. You will also see historical documents related to other houses in New Orleans and the Garden District. Some of them are very similar in floor plans and structure. Since these architectural plans are all that seem to be available, we do not know what the exact layout of the second and third floors of the Brevard-Rice house actually are. However, the material in the Public Domain collection can at least give us an idea of it.

1239 First Street Real Estate Archive

The former home of Anne Rice and the house of the Mayfair Witches has been sold a time or two in recent years. Its list price was about $3.7 million just before it sold in or about 2009. I have retained the realtor listing details as further information on the house itself.

Listing One

Features of First Street

Main Features

List Price: $3,700,000

MLS Number: 729921

1239 FIRST ST

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130

Property Type: Single Family

Bedrooms: 5

Full Bathrooms: 6

Half Bathrooms: 2

Status: Active

Listing Description

CIRCA 1850s, THIS GORGEOUS GREEK REVIVIAL IS THE FORMER HOME TO AUTHOR ANNERICE. DOUBLE GALLERIES W/MASSIVE ANTIQUE BEVELED MIRRORS, EXQUISITE PLATEDCEILINGS, GORGEOUS MILLWORK, ANTIQUE MURALS IN DINING, ELEVATOR, NEWLY RENOVATED KITCHEN, AND MORE. LUSH GROUNDS W/MAINTAINED GARDENS, LARGE HEATED POOL/CABANA, FISH POND,STAFF HOUSE, MORE. ASK AGENT ABOUT MINIMUM 1-YEAR LEASE OR SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTY. EXCLUDED: FRONT CHANDELIER.

General Features

Age

158

Condition

EXCE

Lot Size

120 x 18.3 x 165

Parking Type

None

Stories

3.0

Style

TRAD

Building Features

Additional Features

Elevator

Security Sys

Air Conditioning

Central

Appliances Included

Range/Oven

Refrigerator

Disposal

Dsh wshr

Microwave

Approx Living Area

8910

Exterior

Other

Exterior Features

Courtyard

Fence

Balcony

Porch

Pond

Heating

Central

Room Features

None listed

Property Features

Gas Type

Natural

Lot Description

Irregular

Sewer Type

City

Taken from Re/Max Louisiana

Water Type

Public

Property Information for 1239 First Street

CIRCA 1850s, THIS GORGEOUS GREEK REVIVIAL IS THE FORMER HOME TO AUTHOR ANNE RICE. DOUBLE GALLERIES W/MASSIVE ANTIQUE BEVELED MIRRORS, EXQUISITE PLATED CEILINGS, GORGEOUS MILLWORK, ANTIQUE MURALS IN DINING, ELEVATOR, NEWLY RENOVATED KITCHEN, AND MORE. LUSH GROUNDS W/MAINTAINED GARDENS, LARGE HEATED POOL/CABANA, FISH POND,STAFF HOUSE, MORE. ASK AGENT ABOUT MINIMUM 1-YEAR LEASE OR SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTY. EXCLUDED: FRONT CHANDELIER.

Property Features

Single Family Property

Status: ActiveArea: New Orleans/Garden District (65)County: New Orleans5 total bedroom(s)7 total bath(s)6 total full bath(s)2 total half bath(s)Approximately 8910 sq. ft.Three story

Style: TraditionalMaster bedroomLiving roomDining roomKitchenDenLaundry roomMaster bedroom is 19.5 x 18.0, Upper LevelLiving room is 18.1 x 42.5, Wood Floor, Lower LevelDining room is 19.5 x 18.0, Wood Floor, Lower Level

Kitchen is 14.5 x 15.2, Wood Floor, Lower LevelDen is 21.7 x 18.3, Wood Floor, Upper LevelLaundry room is 9.0 x 7.5, Lower LevelSwimming pool(s)Central air conditioningCentral heatRoofing: AsphaltApproximate lot is 120 x 18.3 x 165Existing Structures: Cabana, Guest HouseUtilities present: Natural Gas, City Sewer

Interior Features

Elevator, Security System, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Range/Oven, Refrigerator, Bedroom 2 is 19.5 x 18.0, Upper Level, Bedroom 3 is 22.0 x 18.6, Wood Floor, Upper Level, Bedroom 4 is 18.0 x 22.4, Wood Floor, Upper Level

Exterior Features

Balcony, Courtyard, Fence, Pond, Porch, Inground Pool

Listing Information

Refreshed at 11:23 AM (February 23, 2009)

Added on Feb 11, 2008 (378 days ago)

This listing was brokered by

RE/MAX N.O. PROPERTIES

Listing Two

Taken from http://www.realtor.com

Schools Near 1239 First Street

Elementary

SCHOOL NAME SCHOOL TYPE PARENT RATING DISTANCE (mi) TEST RATING

Louise S Mcgehee School

Private

0.22 -

Cohen High School

Recovery School District Public

0.86 -

L E Rabouin High School

Recovery School District Public

1.34 -

Academy Of The Sacred Heart

Catholic

1.43 -

Sojourner Truth Academy

Recovery School District Public

1.49

SCHOOL NAME SCHOOL TYPE PARENT RATING DISTANCE (mi) TEST RATING

Trinity Episcopal School

Private

0.2 -

Louise S Mcgehee School

Private

0.22 -

Laurel Elementary School

Recovery School District Public

0.32 -

St Alphonsus School

Catholic

0.36 -

Hill School

Private

0.49

Real Estate Gallery

The Staircase

The Double Parlor

To the left, there appear to be the accesses to the side porch. Note that the windows in the parlor all extend to the floor as described in the books. In this case, the accesses are covered with wood shutters and not drapes, which would not be conducive to using the windows as entrance ways.

The Grand Piano In the Parlor

Can this be the same Bosendorfer piano mentioned in the books?

Murals In the Dining Room

This door must go into the butler's pantry. Note the details of the murals on the walls of the Dining Room. Riverbend must have been some plantation.

The Crown Mouldings

A close-up of the crown mouldings and plaster that was an integral part of the design of the interior. Very beautiful.

The Kitchen

The first pictures I've found of the kitchen. It doesn't look like it has wooden block counters any longer since it's been newly renovated. In the door beyond, we see what must be the butler's pantry as the cabinetry looks like what one would store serving ware in.

Room With Gas Fireplace

This must be one of the gas heaters mentioned in the books. I wonder, from the view at the window, if this is one of the bedrooms?

The Master Bedroom

This is room above the library. Like the room above, it has a ceiling fan, a detail noted in The Witching Hour.

Another Bedroom

With a ceiling fan. Understandable in the climate of New Orleans. They come in handy everywhere. The fan blades will either work to further pull heat upward or push it down depending on what direction they're set in.

The Side Porch

Here we can see entrances to the side porch in the glass enclosure. It's better than a screen.

The Garden

This is probably at the very back of the property, behind the pool area and lookng towards the carport.

The Pond

At first, I wasn't sure what this was until I saw in various details that the garden featured a pond. Possibly a koi pond?

The Swimming Pool

The Pool, Patio and Balustrades

Pool Looking Towards the Kitchen

Here we have a better collective view of the area surrounding the pool. Note the cabana to the right, the kitchen wing and old servants' quarters beyond.

Commemorative Plaque at First Street

Coming soon

From the Archive

House of Patterns 2008-2023

Originally published on 14 June 2008

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