ALBERT J. RUHLMAN HOUSE 2336 St. Charles Avenue

This early Louisiana cottage, believed to date from the 1840’s, looks today much as it did when the little railroad on Nayades Street brought wealthy business men from their offices downtown out to their palatial Garden District homes.

The façade of the house is symmetrically lovely, distinguished by the wooden railing in a diamond-shaped design, so seldom found today. Typical of the best features of homes of this period are the wide center hall, high ceilings, double parlors, cypress woodwork with hand-hammered door knobs, heart pine floors and handsome window glass. Window and door frames are in the so-called keyhole design.

The present owners of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Ruhlman have furnished it with pieces contemporary with the era of its construction. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of furniture by Prudent Mallard, a native of France who worked in New Orleans from 1840-79. The Mallard sideboard in the dining room is of peg and hole construction, no nails of any kind having been used. Also the work of Mallard are two bedroom sets, one with a half tester, the other with full tester. Among the other interesting Mallard furniture are two chairs and a prie dieu which were once possessions of the master cabinetmaker himself.

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