Annette and Frank Rolfe Buy a House—How Missouri’s First School West of the Mississippi Became a Home in Sainte Genevieve
“We Are Now All Americans”: Living Inside Sainte Genevieve’s 1808 Academy.
For hundreds of years, a large Mississippian site called Common Field near Sainte Genevieve existed, but its population declined around 1400–1500, and the area became relatively depopulated. French explorers such as Jacques Marquette passed by Ste. Geneive as they explored the Mississippi Valley in 1673. Around 1735, European settlers were drawn by the rich bottomland (le Grand Champ, or “the Big Field”) and nearby lead and salt deposits—Sainte Genevieve became the first permanent European settlement west of the Mississippi. In 1785, a great flood destroyed the original river-bottom town. Over the next decade, residents moved ~3 miles northwest to higher ground, the present historic district of Sainte Genevieve. After the Louisiana Purchase, Jean-Baptiste Valle famously wrote in 1804, “We are now all Americans.” In 1808, the Old Louisiana Academy was built, becoming the first school west of the Mississippi River. And in 2005, Frank and Annette Rolfe bought the building as their home.
The founding of this school in 1808 preceded public schools in St. Louis and New Orleans by thirty-four years.
The founding of this school in 1808 preceded public schools in St. Louis and New Orleans by thirty-four years. The Academy Building is a massive limestone structure built in the Federal style on the highest hill in Sainte Genevieve. The Academy was very Jeffersonian and very much ahead of its time. It called for the education of all children, including the children of the poor and the children of the native peoples residing in the territory. In addition, religious beliefs were not to be considered in hiring teachers, admitting students, or filling positions on the Board of Trustees. It was considered so important in France that King Louis XVII provided the Academy with the services of three Christian Brothers in 1818.
It is the Rolfe family's wish that the Old Louisiana Academy would remain available to the public on a limited scale.
In 1861, General Firmin A. Rozier converted the school into his private estate, and eight children lived in the house until 1935. The building and farm were then sold to the city of Sainte Genevieve to build a new modern public school on the site, and the Academy building was left unused. Unable to keep up with the continued restoration Sainte Genevieve gave the building to the state of Missouri. Missouri sold the house to conservator Tim Conley in 1993. Finally, in 1994, the Academy was restored, and it was sold to Frank and Annette Rolfe in 2005. Under their ownership, they made significant improvements. It is the Rolfe family's wish that the Old Louisiana Academy would remain available to the public on a limited scale, and they are willing to extend tours to historians and educational institutions.
An original 1850 etching of the schoolhouse overlooking old Sainte Genevieve and the Mississippi River.
Frank and Annette Rolfe had been tourists in Sainte Genevieve for over 20 years and delighted in the quaint, historic town. They were tired of the hassle of living in Dallas, and wanted a higher quality of life than what you can get in the big city. After searching online, they found this house and came to see it. They liked it so much they bought it immediately.
My name is Annette Rolfe. Frank and I met on a blind date in Dallas in the summer of 1984.
My name is Annette Rolfe. Frank and I met on a blind date in Dallas in the summer of 1984. We were inseparable after that first night and recently celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. After that first date, Annette found her best friend and Frank found his soul mate. We have identical interests, and one of them is hunting for antiques. We spent decades going to antique stores and estate sales on weekends.
After cosmetically restoring most of the house, including a total restoration of the lower level, and adding new electricity, water, sewer, and air-conditioning, we're ready for a break. Our immediate plans are just to enjoy the house and the town, and let the new landscaping keep growing. Of course, you are never really finished with a 200-year-old house—something is always in need of maintenance.
It’s hard to explain Sainte Genevieve's appeal to people who have never visited.
It’s hard to explain Sainte Genevieve's appeal to people who have never visited. Aside from the fact that the town was founded in 1735 – and is the oldest settlement west of the Mississippi – the descendants of the original founders still live in the town, unlike Williamsburg, Virginia. Sainte Genevieve is a true community with the added perk of great schools, friendly neighbors, low crime, and shared common interests. It’s a real home.
...an authentic 18th-century Louis the 16th pre-Revolutionary War French piece, stuffed with horsehair. For being around 300 years old, it’s in fantastic condition.
We bought the sofa at an estate sale in Dallas in 1991. It’s an authentic 18th-century Louis the 16th pre-Revolutionary War French piece, stuffed with horsehair. For being around 300 years old, it’s in fantastic condition. At a school auction, we won an expert from the Antiques Roadshow to come to our house in Dallas, and the sofa was one of their favorite items because of its authenticity.
Annette adores French culture...an original Jodhpur jacket from Versailles in the 1700s.
According to AI it may be the only coat from Versailles in the U.S., with all the others being in museums in France.
About 20 years ago, there was an auction in St. Louis of “famous historical garments.” It was the only auction like that we’d ever seen, although we went to a garment-only antique show in Dallas in the 1990s, so we knew people collected these things. On the auction list was an original Jodhpur jacket from Versailles in the 1700s. Annette adores French culture, and we thought it went with the house, but we had no idea how rare it was. According to AI, it may be the only coat from Versailles in the U.S., with all the others being in museums in France.
Most everything in the house is period. Period!
Thank you, Annette and Frank, for sharing your home with us!
Sainte Genevieve (https://visitstegen.com/) has so much to offer with all its history, community, festivals, museums, restaurants…a super cool place for a day trip. Get Out There!
Take a hike. Start a business. Collect something. Move. Do anything. Do something. Get out there, that sunken sofa won't miss you—time's a-wasting!
—Pics & Words by T. Smugala.
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