Did Babar Visit Scarsdale?

It is well known that Scarsdale has been the home of many notable people, including Liza Minnelli, gangster Bugsy Siegel, and spy Robert Hannsen. However, did you know that Laurent de Brunhoff, creator of Babar also stayed in town?

The interesting tale was revealed at a Board of Architectural Review meeting on 3-28-11 when plans were reviewed for an addition to a home on Lockwood Road in the Overhill section of Scarsdale. During the discussion, a BAR member mentioned that the home was rumored to be “Babar’s house.” Apparently, the author of Babar, Laurent de Brunhoff, visited Scarsdale in the 1960’s and is said to have stayed at the home on Lockwood Road. The visit is covered in the November 25, 1965 edition of Life Magazine. De Brunhoff subsequently published Babar Comes to America which was published by Random House. The book includes an illustration that looks like Lockwood Road and the rumor has lived on.

In the story, Babar spends a quiet weekend in Scarsdale before going onto Harvard to receive an honorary degree.  While visiting the Village, Babar does what Americans do ... he goes to a big supermarket, learns to play baseball and watches a game on TV.

According to the current owner of the house, no one has been able to confirm Babar’s presence but the illustration in the book really does look like her house and Lockwood Road. She learned about the story shortly after she moved in at a neighborhood association meeting.

Pictured here are the book illustration, the current house, a photo of Babar, and a snapshot of Laurent de Brunhoff with his father Jean de Brunhoff, who was the original creator of Babar. The photos of the de Brunhoff sand Babar are taken from Life Magazine, November 26, 1995.

If anyone saw the elephant or de Brunhoff in the Village in the 1960’s, please do share!