Audubon Place is a private street located next to Tulane University and across St. Charles Avenue from Audubon Park. When George Blackwelder developed the street in the late 1890's, his intent was to create a millionaire's enclave and that is certainly what he accomplished. There are twenty-eight houses on Audubon Place, most built in the early 1900's in various revival styles, and each worth several million dollars today. The street sits behind a decorative iron arch and two turreted stone gatehouses.
The first home on the left at the entrance to Audubon Place is the residence of Tulane University's president. It was constructed in the early 1900's by William T. Jay, but for many years, it was the home of Samuel Zemurray. Mr. Zemurray was the founder of Cuyamel Fruit Company and became president of United Fruit Company, at the time, the most influential company of its kind in the world. Both companies had significant influence in, not only the economic, but, also, the political history of several Latin American countries.
Mr. Zemurray was a self-made man, who started out selling the bananas that arrived at the port of New Orleans which had ripened in transport and needed to be sold quickly. From that modest beginning, he went on to become a wealthy man and one of the most important figures in Latin American commerce.
He made generous donations to Tulane University - including the home pictured above at the entrance to Audubon Place - and many philanthropic causes in the U.S. and in Central America. He died in 1961, in New Orleans, where he'd lived most of his life.
His wife, Sarah, left a beautiful legacy in the form of Zemurray Gardens, north of Lake Pontchartrain, near Hammond, LA. The house the Zemurrays built there was to be a lodge and the accompanying land reserved for timber. But, when Mrs. Zemurray looked at the 150 acres of tall pines, she had a different vision - a vision of beautiful, blooming azaleas planted along winding trails through the woods. It's said that it was her secret garden, because she labored over it until it was almost completed before she presented it to Mr. Zemurray, fearing that he - a practical man who had plans for the timber on those acres - might say no to the project. She must've waited until the azaleas were in bloom, because Mr. Zemurray acquiesced, the pine trees were saved and Zemurray Gardens was born. It's open to the public every year during the azalea season in March and April. |
