Dr. Lee A. Butler House

Dr. Lee A. Butler House. 411 Gordon Street. , Built: c. 1910 , Architectural Style: Prairie Queen Anne , For years, many residents fondly remembered their visits to Dr. Butler's Drug Store on Gordon Street. It was known as a place that provided affordable health and comfort to the ill as well as large vanilla ice cream cones to youngsters. Dr. Butler's story is important to Freetown because it represents a very special African American success story. Lee A. Butler, born in 1868, was raised on various farms in St. Martin Parish. His parents were former slaves who moved around between various farming positions. They worked along the Bayou Teche between Parks and Arnaudville during the last half of the nineteenth century. By some unknown circumstances, Lee Butler was able to elevate his status from farm boy to physician. He accomplished this during the very difficult times of Jim Crow inequity and racial segregation. Well into his 50s, Dr. Butler moved from Breaux Bridge to Freetown where he acquired an existing residence and grocery store located here, at the southeast corner of Gordon and E. Main Streets. The pharmacy was removed sometime after 1960. Only his former residence remains at this location.