Longue Vue

The Backstory: Long Vue, although not as large as some of the great homes in America (Biltmore, Hearst Castle, Drayton Hall, etc.) has a history that is uniquely New Orleans. The home was built by Edgar and Edith Stern on a property the couple purchased shortly after their marriage in 1921. At that time, the location was on the outskirts of the city and certainly remote from the grand homes along St. Charles Avenue. Edgar Stern was a successful cotton broker who later branched out in other industries such as finance and broadcasting (WDSU). Edith Stern, nee Rosenwald, was from Chicago and was the daughter of one of the early owners and managers of Sears Roebuck. The couple built one home on their property but by 1935, the couple decided to expand the landscaping and replace the home. The gardens were designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman beginning in 1935, and the existing home was designed by William and Geoffrey Platt with work commencing in 1939.

Other items of note:

• Each façade of the home represents a different architectural style;

• Edith Stern lived in the house until 1979;

• The Sterns were very active in social causes and philanthropy. Edgar Stern was a major contributor and later Board President for Dillard University, a historically black college and University ( HBCU);

• Edith Stern was an advocate for voting rights and clean government;

• Edith Stern (unlike her husband) backed Adlai Stevenson for President and hosted a party at her home with Stevenson and John F. Kennedy.

For more detail, see Drawn Out To Long Vue by the Decorative Arts Trust. Also see A Passion for Sharing: the Life of Edith Rosenwald Stern.