What you are looking at is the Breard Mercantile building. In later years, it was known as the Hipp Marks building. It stood at the corner of South Grand and DeSiard. Henry Bry Park (the fountain) is located where this building was. The person taking the photo probably stood near the door of the old Austin’s building! The man in the chair is identified as Armand Gourville Breard, who was the owner. He took over the business from D.A. Sr. in 1879 and died in early 1883. That means this photo probably dates to circa 1880! What a gorgeous building, now lost to time.
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 