© 2006 Phillip Colwart Photography.

The property on which the McGehee Home stands was purchased from Adelia H. Booth in 1905 for $2,750.00. It consisted of ten acres and an old house, which was torn down. The McGehee Home was completed in 1907 and occupied by Dr. Edward Larned McGehee, Jr., Aurora Wilkinson Gurley McGehee (his wife) and their baby son, Edward "Ned" Larned McGehee III. The site was across from the Hammond Sanitarium (Hammond's first hospital) also built by Dr. "Eddie."

The Greek Revival home has four columns outside, which are four feet in diameter and two smaller columns inside. The floors are old growth, edge grained, long leaf pine. They are five
layers thick.

© 2006 Phillip Colwart Photography.

The original layout of the second floor of the home had four bedrooms upstairs with two baths and a kitchen. During WWII, this part of the home was rented to college students. The downstairs had one bedroom, dining room, living room, den, and three baths. The kitchen had awalk in pantry, wood stove, and a staircase going to several storage rooms and the third floor attic, which was as large as the lower floors. During the war, the family lived in half of the downstairs and rented the other half to a young married couple.

The original main staircase was moved from its place in front of the fireplace to better accomodate the bed and breakfast facilities of today. It was the scene of many grand entrancesfor brides, prom dates and childhood play. There are three working fireplaces in the home with one chimney.

In 1938, "Ned" married Augusta Louise Tucker, of Ponchatoula. They had three children, Gurley Tucker McGehee (Maurin), Edward Larned McGehee IV, and Rosamond Louise McGehee (Lopez). As the children grew, the family reclaimed the second floor bedrooms and turned the second floor kitchen into a playroom.

© 2006 Phillip Colwart Photography.

The grounds are extensively planted in azaleas, camellias, honeysuckle, and sweet olive under a canopy of five oak and pine trees. Ned was prominent in camellia circles and worked with Hody Wilson (LSU Experimental Station), Dr. Sedgie Newsome and other camellia experts to create new varieties. Ned was also an avid fan and judge of Tennessee Walking Horses. He had a ring and stables in the backyard where he and Henry Thomas kept and trained show horses. Later, he put in a swimming pool, "so the children of Hammond would have a place to learn to swim" when the old city Natatorium was closed.

There are many fond memories associated with the McGehee Home. The family graciously hosted governors, business executives, friends and family. The home was always open to charity fund-raisers, meetings, functions of the church and Southeastern Louisiana University. It often burst with teenagers, as it hosted high school friends of the McGehee children. The upstairs balcony was a favorit scene for dances. Ned and Tucker (as Augusta was called) wanted it to be a safe haven for young people. It was! It was accepted on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982.

The house was sold in 1998 to Michel and Isabel Marcais to become Michabelle, A Little Inn & Restaurant. There are many memories associated with the McGehee home and many memories yet to be made as Michabelle.