Flashlight to Streetlight
Women’s Opera Guild Home, Prytania Street, NOLA.
Originally designed in the Greek Revival style by architect William A. Freret in 1859, the home’s wealthy merchant owner apparently lost his fortune after the Civil War and couldn’t make the payments. Freret bought the house back at auction in 1867 for $30,700. In 1944, the house was purchased for only $12,500 by Dr. Herman Seebold and his wife Nettie, a globe-trotting couple whose lives were steeped in art and music as well as in material wealth, which they lavished on its decor. By 1965 the couple were deceased with no heir apparent. Mrs. Seebold’s hand-written will gave the glorious place and all its contents to the Opera Women’s Guild. A stipulation noted that the contents were not to be sold or removed.
Women’s Opera Guild Home, Prytania Street, NOLA.
Originally designed in the Greek Revival style by architect William A. Freret in 1859, the home’s wealthy merchant owner apparently lost his fortune after the Civil War and couldn’t make the payments. Freret bought the house back at auction in 1867 for $30,700. In 1944, the house was purchased for only $12,500 by Dr. Herman Seebold and his wife Nettie, a globe-trotting couple whose lives were steeped in art and music as well as in material wealth, which they lavished on its decor. By 1965 the couple were deceased with no heir apparent. Mrs. Seebold’s hand-written will gave the glorious place and all its contents to the Opera Women’s Guild. A stipulation noted that the contents were not to be sold or removed.