Lake Charles, Louisiana
Charpentier Homes
A lumber boom in the late 1880's brought lumbermen from the north to Lake Charles.  Known as “Michigan Men,” these working class charpentiers (carpenters) built homes to their liking without the aid of architects.  When a disastrous fire destroyed  much of the sprawling town in 1910, architects were brought in to rebuild.  Notably the Southern architects Favrot and Livaudais constructed a Beaux Arts style Courthouse, the old City Hall, and a sprawling red brick Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles
Lake_Charles