Petro House

1118 Jefferson Street
Built 1832

Architectural Style: Eclectic Revival & Craftsman

Joseph S. Petro, Sr. and Florida Dominique Petro built this

house after many years of success with their Freetown grocery

store and rental properties. They owned and operated their

grocery together from the time they were married in 1926 and

they built the store located at 600 Lamar Street, now called

Acadian Superette. The Petro name originates in Castile, Spain

with variations on spelling that include Perez, Petrez, Petriz,

Pedrez and others. It is an ancient Spanish name, originating

between 420 AD and 711 AD. Mrs. Florida Petro was born in

Saint Martinville to parents of Lebanese descent. Her mother

was an Azar whose family ancestry can be traced back through

the chiefs of the Tribe of Ghassan back to Noah's son, Shem. The

Petros, like many early families in Freetown were known for

their generosity of time and resources. Florida Petro was well

known for her phenomenal fundraising, her amazing cooking,

and for providing a home filled with singing, dancing, and

unconditional love for family, extended family and friends. She

also tirelessly gave her time to Saint Jude's Children's Hospital

and was a beloved leader in the Cedars Club of Lafayette.