The History of the D.H. Holmes Canal Street Store

The D.H. Holmes Department Store buildings are located in New Orleans' Canal Street Historic District.

Canal Street primarily was residential, with little commercial activity in the early 1800's. However, it was the widest thoroughfare in the City and was centrally located between the old and new sections of New Orleans. On October 15, 1849, Mr. D.H. Holmes opened one of the most important dry goods emporiums in New Orleans at No. 144 Canal Street, its present location.

The original Gothic-like structure was designed by architect Charles Pride. The New Orleans Delta referred to the store as "the most excellent style in design and furnishings." It was at this location that the D.H. Holmes store gained a national reputation as one of the outstanding retail establishments in the United States.

In the years leading up to the Civil War, commercial building intensified; and by the outbreak of the war, Canal Street primarily was a commercial area. During the four years of the Civil War and twelve years of reconstruction, the store grew. Additional parcels were bought, and the store expanded to have access to Bourbon and Canal and, in 1869, to Dauphine Street. In 1880, Holmes, along with the St. Charles Hotel, were the first to install a sewerage system in New Orleans. By 1917, there were additions to Dauphine and Bourbon Streets, as well as an entrance on Iberville Street. In 1916, during WWI, there was the Washington Artillery Battery C, also known as the Holmes Division. During this period, the Holmes establishment already had grown to the block directly behind, extending from Iberville to Bienville Streets, thus providing warehouses/delivery/offices in the back and the main store at front. In 1913, the original four-story Gothic-design building gave way to a large neoclassic design, while the buildings in the back were designed in a more traditional warehouse style.

On Canal Street at street level was a wide marquee beneaht which appeared the famous Holmes Clock. "Meet you under the clock at Holmes" were the words of the times.

Around the turn of the century, the original budiding facing Iberville Street was three stories high and four bays wide. On January 22, 1905, the Times Democrat published an article and drawing of a new elevation corresponding to the renovation of the building. A fourth floor was added , and the facade was extended by four four-story bays toward Bourbon Street. Described as "of old Moorish design," the building is of late Italinate charater in ist facade and exterior detailing. Each bay has three double sets of wood windows between full-length pilasters. The windows are separated by ornately detailed cast-iron mullions that extended to the underside of the cornice. This cornice detail was carried over onto the new facade.

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