| Brightest Star: W. P. Brown Mansion |
| There are many houses of significance on St. Charles Avenue. I wouldn't want to get into an argument about which is the most beautiful, the most historic or the most architecturally interesting. But, there seems to be a consensus that the W. P. Brown house is actually the largest. |
| And that's no accident. When Mr. Brown started planning the house, he promised his new bride that he would build her the most palatial home in New Orleans. In a city known for its grand homes, Mr. Brown had to go to some lengths to keep his promise. |
| He imported material and craftsmen from all over the world. No expense was spared and no detail overlooked. Work on the mansion was begun in 1901 and completed in 1904. When it was finished, the impressive 22,000 square feet, 4-story Romanesque Revival home was, in the opinion of many, indeed, the grandest home on the grandest avenue. |
| Above & directly below, the Brown house a few years after it was built. |
| W. P. Brown's firm cornered the global cotton market in the early 1900's, making him one of the wealthiest men in the South. He went on to establish Hibernia Bank, one of the most respected banks in the city and still open today, |
| The photo directly above is courtesy of nola.com; the photo at the top of the page is courtesy of Asergeev; the second photo from the top of the page is courtesy of Luxist. The link to this page is: http://old-new-orleans.com/NO_Brown.html Back to Old New Orleans Whispers - Home |
| The magnificent home Mr. Brown built for his wife has been owned by several prominent New Orleanians through the years. Its second owner was Florieda Batson Gibbens, who was captain of the team of 13 U.S. women who participated in the 1922 Women's Olympics in Paris. |
| A few years ago, the Brown home was offered for sale. Many of the people who passed by it on the avenue every day held their collective breath in anticipation of who might buy it and what might become of the property. But good news came in the form of new owner, John Houghtaling, who said that he's been in love with the house since he first saw it at the age of 11. |
| Mr. Houghtaling recently provided New Orleanians with an opportunity to see the inside of the home - its first public tour ever - in conjunction with the New Orleans Museum of Art Home and Art Tour, which benefited the museum. |
| More than a hundred years after its construction, the grandest house on the grandest avenue still impresses and still holds its place as one of the city's brightest stars. -- Nancy |
| Brown house, 1911 |