720 Front St.
Natchitoches, LA 71457
31.76204,-93.085987
Along the beautiful Cane River in Natchitoches lies Front Street. Along this old brick street houses the heart of the city's historical district. Here you will find businesses, local shops and great restaurants. During Christmas, this area is known for its endless amount of Christmas lights and decorations. For you movie buffs out there, this area was widely featured in Steel Magnolias.
One of these historic buildings along Front Street is the old Prudhomme Hughes building. The building was constructed in the 1820's by Gabriel St. Ann Prudhomme, a talented and promising young architect. As with most of the buildings in this area, the structure is adorned with intricate iron lace work and has long galleries to the front and the rear.
After passing through the hands of several families, the first floor of the building was turned into the Hughes and Aaron Saloon and Billiard Hall. This was considered an extremely lavished and classy saloon for young gentlemen to partake in extracurricular activities, if you know what I mean!
As the saloon was being successfully operated, the north half of the first floor has always housed an additional business. Parker's Shoe Store occupied that part of the building around 1899. After the 1900 sale of the property, Hughes Dry Goods bought out the shoe store and turned it into a mercantile establishment.
