Earl Barthé, retired plasterer and now plastering historian

Earl Barthé's family company specializes in historical plastering. Mr. Barthé, a retired plasterer himself, is now a plastering historian. Plaster is in Earl's blood: the Barthé family has been plastering since 1850. Earl tells us that his father worked on such historic buildings as Saint Louis Cathedral, the French Market, and the Saenger Theater. "New Orleans is well known for plasterers", Earl says; at one time more plasterers lived in New Orleans' 7th ward alone than in all of Louisiana.