Whittington-Guerniere House

Whittington-Guerniere House was built in 1915 by owners, Mary Whittington and her husband, Mr. Gaston Guerniere, on Whittington family property. It was built in the Neoclassical style, made popular by Chicago’s Columbian Expedition of 1836. The Whittingtons were one of Lafayette’s early families, settling in Vermilionville around 1803. The family emigrated to Baltimore Maryland in 1634 from Gloucestershire, England. The first Whittington to come to Vermilionville was James A. Whittington. By Maryland law, he would not inherit family property because he was not the first-born son. As such, he was prescribed to a life of working for his older brother. Instead, he chose to travel to Vermilionville to make a living by farming. He purchased a large track of land surrounding this house. At the same time Whittington arrived in Vermilionville, Isabelle Serianne Sellers arrived in Saint Martinville. She was part of a group of French Colonists on their way from New Orleans who narrowly escaped an attack by outlaws. Young Whittington heard there were ladies in the group who were eligible for marriage and quickly made his way to meet them. Isabelle caught his interest, and they were married soon afterwards.