Background
james Freret was born in 1839 at New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
james Freret was born in 1839 at New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
A graduate of the Jesuit College, New Orleans, he left for Paris, France, in 1860 to study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.
Arriving in New Orleans after the close of the War Mr. Freret established architectural practice in the city and in the course of twenty years or more designed (and probably built) several important buildings of that time. Among the best known of these were the Louisiana Sugar Exchange; the Produce Exchange; Masonic Temple; St. Patrick’s Hall; and a number of institutional buildings for the Jesuit order of which he was a prominent member. In addition he was associated with Claude Beroujon on the main building of the Spring Hill, Ala., College, a three-story brick structure.