This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.


O.J. Key House - Manor House Apartments
____(notes from Russell Guerin’s file)
The main building at Manor House apartments on De Montiuzin St. has been reputed to have been a plantation house.
It was known in first half of 20th century to have been called the “O.J. Key House.” Owner appears to have been the father of person by that name who was a star athlete at Tulane University after WW II. He later became a movie actor. (Cf. article from Clarion Herald.)
Interviews with descendants of Key family remember that the house was known to have been a servants quarter of a plantation which fronted on the beach. They recalled that a “real estate history about 4 or 5 inches thick” had been passed on to new owners when house was sold years ago. No copy of such has been located. (Attorney for transfer was Freddie Gisevius, now deceased.)
It was recalled that such documents traced the origin of title to land grant from “King Louis.”
City map of 1897 shows house as being to rear of 508 Front St. but probably was part of larger site, which included what is now 216 Front. On latter site was once home of Mrs. G. H. Boyle. That mansion (see photos in file) burned about 1901. Site later became Tulane Hotel, and included Key house as part of complex.
File includes early photo of house before changes that include addition of wings. Also included is photo which shows servants quarter of deBlieux home, formerly plantation of Andrew Jackson, Jr. Purpose of this inclusion is to show similarities of design of both servants quarter buildings.


Key House Manor House Apts OJ-key-home2
© 2008 - 2024
Hancock County Historical Society
All rights reserved