villa lewaro

Villa Lewaro, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates

Today's home, Villa Lewaro in Irvington, New York is a National Historic Landmark. The home, also known as the Anne E. Poth Home, was the home of Madam C. J. Walker from 1918 to 1919, believed to be the first female, and first African-American, self-made millionaire (she made her money selling shampoo and other hair care). The mansion is an Italianate villa house designed for Walker by Vertner Tandy, the first registered African-American architect and was constructed during 1916-1918 at an estimated cost of $250,000, a fortune at the time. The name Villa Lewaro was coined by a visitor, Enrico Caruso, from the first two letters of each word in Lelia Walker Robinson, the name of her daughter, who later went by the name of A'Lelia Walker.

The home was used as a conference center on race relations issues. Walker died there in 1919 and it was inherited by her daughter A'Lelia Walker who owned it until she died in 1931. It then became the Anne E. Poth Home for Convalescent and Aged Members of the Companions of the Forest in America. The home is on more than three acres. The 30-room mansion has eight bedrooms and elaborate details including the original bronze chandelier, stained glass windows, intricate moldings and coffered ceilings. The renovated kitchen provides access to the outdoors. The property includes a large renovated carriage house and a reflecting pool. It is listed at $6.8 million.

Gallery: Villa Lewaro, Estate of the Day