“A work of art that is never seen is little better off than a work of art that has never been created.” -Lessing Rosenwald, brother of Edith Stern
Longue Vue House and Gardens
photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN
by Maggie Murphy
IT HAS BEEN SAID, “Home is where the heart is.” If you are discussing the heart of New Orleans, there is no better home than Longue Vue House and Gardens. Tucked away on a winding gravel path just off Metairie Road, Longue Vue is an urban oasis in our own backyard. Built in 1942, this house has stood the test of time, providing both visitors and locals alike a chance to experience a way of life that has all but disappeared. But what of the family that built the house? Who were Edgar and Edith Stern, and how does this old dwelling reflect the visionaries that built it? To learn more about the estate, we turned to Longue Vue’s Curator of Collections, Lenora Costa. Costa has had a special connection to the estate since her childhood. “My mom used to bring me here to take our Christmas card pictures,” she explains. “She would put me in a dress and have me sit on the front steps.” Even as a >> October-November 2014 59