The Veranda Hotel's Journey Through Fires, Violence, and Modernization

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Construction of the Veranda Hotel began in 1845 as a courthouse by Catholic priest and founder of Abbeville, Père Antoine Désiré Mégret. The hotel underwent a tumultuous journey of evolution and transformation, marked by fires, acts of violence, and eventual modernization.

Construction of the courthouse was interrupted in 1848 during a legal dispute over the location of the parish seat. After Père Megret died in 1853, Joseph Gallet purchased the building and opened it as the Veranda Hotel. The hotel quickly became a hub for traveling professionals, including dentists, salesmen, and jurors.

Incidents of violence were not isolated to the hotel; they constituted significant events in the town's history. Notable among these was the 1874 duel between Sheriff G.B. Shaw and State Representative Paulin Fontelieu, which followed a disagreement in the Veranda coffee shop. Another incident occurred in 1876 involving the shooting of Carl G. Schneider by Frank R. King over a dispute concerning fraudulent land transactions. Additionally, there was the near-deadly stabbing of Veranda proprietor Joseph Bouriague by a rival hotel owner, Theodule Theriot, in 1889.

Fires also plagued the Veranda Hotel, with a blaze in 1917 requiring renovations. The following year, the Flu Epidemic of 1918 took its toll, claiming the life of Maria Lydia Boudreaux, daughter of proprietress Desire Trahan. Economic strains resulting from the epidemic affected the hotel and other businesses throughout Abbeville.

By 1927, the police jury saw a need for a new hotel with modern amenities, so they decided to replace the Veranda Hotel with a more contemporary establishment. The Veranda Hotel was demolished, and construction began on the new Audrey Hotel, which opened in 1928 under the ownership of J.B. Miller.

On the day of the grand opening, The Abbeville Meridional reported, “The opening of the Audrey Hotel, today, after nearly eight months of patient waiting, marks an epoch in the development of Abbeville and Vermilion Parish. And it may be truthfully said that the completion of this splendid building is of special interest to all classes: agricultural, industrial, and commercial – representing as it does, a new era in the economic and social life of the community.” The Audrey Hotel symbolized progress and economic growth for Abbeville, boasting modern amenities like an elevator and hosting glamorous parties and events in the rooftop garden.

However, the hotel's prosperity was short-lived, as post-World War II economic challenges led to its eventual closure in the early 1960s. Today, the Veranda and Audrey Hotels remain a valuable part of Abbeville's history. The former Audrey Hotel stands as Abbeville City Hall. The building is a testament to the city's continuity and transformation, from its humble origins as a courthouse to its height as a bustling hotel and, finally, to its current role as a seat of municipal governance.