Biloxi in Harrison County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Debuys-Hermann-Keller House

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, July 10, 2025

1. Debuys-Hermann-Keller House Marker

Inscription. The Greek Revival mansion once located here was a "raised cottage" (meaning it was composed of a frame upper story set upon an above-ground brick basement to protect the wooden portion from moisture and insects.) Probably built ca. 1850 for Peter Debuys, a French planter. It was acquired in 1851 by New Orleans cotton broker L.F. Hermann and in 1871 by John Henry Keller. A New Orleans manufacturer and philanthropist, Keller organized the Seashore Assembly in Biloxi. The house was lost in Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Erected 2012 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 30° 23.615′ N, 88° 52.848′ W. Marker is in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Harrison County. It is at the intersection of Beach Boulevard (U.S. 90) and Bellman Street, on the right when traveling west on Beach Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 586 E Beach Blvd, Biloxi MS 39530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker: Vance-Gillis House (within shouting distance of this marker); Church of the Redeemer (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Birthplace of Barq's (approx. ¼ mile away); Biloxi (approx. ¼ mile away); William Bartram Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Biloxi City Park & Welcome Sign (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chris LeDoux (approx. 0.3 miles away); High Water Mark (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biloxi.

Also see . . .
1. Historic Houses of Biloxi (pdf file). National Register of Historic Places (Submitted on September 6, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

2. Keller House, East Beach, Biloxi, Harrison County, MS. The Historic American Building Survey Record for the Keller House. (Submitted on September 7, 2013.)

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 5, 2013

2. Debuys-Hermann-Keller House Marker

Marker and area of the house. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 5, 2013

3. Marker and area of the house.

Photographed by Craig Doda, December 24, 2018

4. Debuys-Hermann-Keller House Marker

Debuys-Hermann-Keller House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown

5. Debuys-Hermann-Keller House

This undated image (1930s-1960s?), courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey, shows the Debuys-Hermann Keller House (also known as the Keller House or the Ralph Wood House), as it appeared in earlier days. Note the above-ground brick basement as described on the marker. This was, unfortunately, one of eleven individually-listed properties in Biloxi on the National Register of Historic Places that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, July 10, 2025

6. Debuys-Hermann-Keller House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,352 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 29, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on February 16, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on September 7, 2013. 6. submitted on July 29, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.