Background
William Alfred Freret was born in New Orleans. His father was William Freret, a mayor of the city, and his cousin James Freret was a fellow architect with whom he sometimes collaborated.
William Alfred Freret was born in New Orleans. His father was William Freret, a mayor of the city, and his cousin James Freret was a fellow architect with whom he sometimes collaborated.
He was educated in his native city and in Baton Rouge.
He served from 1887 to 1888 as head of the Office of the Supervising Architect, which oversaw construction of Federal buildings. He is associated with a number of buildings that are listed on the United States. National Register of Historic Places. William received an engineering degree in England and adopted architecture as his profession.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he entered the Confederate Army as a private in the Washington Artillery from New Orleans.
He was promoted from time to time, finally reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel of engineers. He served on Kirby Smith"s staff, and was also assistant chief and acting chief of the Transport-Mississippi Department until the surrender.
From 1866 to 1868 he was state engineer for Louisiana, and for several years after that he had charge of the construction of the public schools of the McDonogh fund, some sixteen in number. He served as supervising architect of the United States. government from June, 1887, until March, 1890, when he resigned.
West. A. Freret designed the reconstructed statehouse at Baton Rouge after the Civil War.
He was the architect for the buildings of the state university at Pineville, the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and many of the public buildings and private residences in New Orleans and elsewhere in Louisiana and several of the neighboring states. Works include:
Old Louisiana State Capitol, North Boulevard and Saint Philip Saint Baton Rouge, Louisiana, built 1847-1850, NRHP-listed After James H. Dakin"s Gothic Revival building burned during the American Civil War, Freret was in charge of its reconstruction in 1882, adding notable features like a spiral staircase and the stained-glass dome. United States. Courthouse and Post Office, 201 West. Commerce Saint Aberdeen, Mississippi, NRHP-listed
United States. Courthouse and Post Office, 301 South. Center Saint, Statesville, North Carolina (now City Hall)
United States. Post Office, West. 4th Saint between Government Place and West Saint Williamsport, Pennsylvania Freret,William A.), NRHP-listed
United States. Post Office and Courthouse, 83 Broad Saint Charleston, South Carolina, NRHP-listed
United States Post Office in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A red brick Romanesque Revival building with corner towers, no longer existing
United States Post Office and Courthouse in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Brownstone Romanesque Revival "especially imposing" with a tall corner tower and a "dramatic roofline", no longer existing.
Married Woodville, Mississippi, December 23, 1865, Carrie H. Lewis of Shreveport, Louisiana.