Old Brick House (Biloxi, Mississippi) facts for kids
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Old Brick House
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Old Brick House, October 2011
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 410 E. Bayview Avenue Biloxi, Mississippi |
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| Built | circa 1850 |
| Architectural style | French Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001011 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 1973 |
The Old Brick House, also known as the Biloxi Garden Center, is a special historic home. It was built around 1850 by John Henley. He was a former sheriff and mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi. The house sits right on Back Bay in Biloxi.
This old house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States. Later, in 1987, it became a Mississippi Landmark. Even though Hurricane Katrina badly damaged it in 2005, the house was fixed up. It was officially reopened in 2011.
History of the Old Brick House
The land where the house stands has a long history. It was first given to Jean Baptiste Carquotte in 1784. This was a special land grant from the Spanish government.
When John Henley built the house around 1850, he used strong materials. The floors were made of tough heart-pine lumber. The outside walls had three layers of brick. This strong brick design helped the house survive many hurricanes. It also stood strong against storm surges for over 150 years. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Biloxi.
In the mid-1950s, the house started to be neglected. But local Biloxi Garden Clubs stepped in to save it. The City of Biloxi then bought the house. It became a museum and a place for community events.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage. The house was flooded with seven feet (2.1 meters) of water. This was from the storm surge. Even with all that water, the main structure survived. It was then carefully restored to look just as it did in the past. As of 2011, the Old Brick House was one of only two antebellum homes left in Biloxi. Antebellum means "before the war," referring to the American Civil War.
