A Worker’s Cottage

With the arrival of the railroad in 1848, coastal towns like Fairfield became popular summer destinations for people seeking refuge from the city. In 1885 New York actor Robert Manuel bought the Sun Tavern as his summer residence and farm, and soon improved the property by building a stone fence and massive gate posts that are still visible. In 1888, while also erecting a barn, he had a small gable-front cottage built for the use of workmen on his farm, probably by a local carpenter using commercially available Victorian-era designs. Its porch added a picturesque touch while providing ventilation and a place to enjoy the view, and inside it likely contained an entryway off the porch, a small parlor, a narrow bedroom, and a kitchen to the rear, with the upstairs possibly used for sleeping as well. Over the years, laborers, house servants, cooks, and gardeners may have lived there. The property remained in the family until it passed in 1958 to a grand niece, Elizabeth Rolfe, who in the 1960s rented the cottage to local newlyweds in exchange for gardening and handyman work. In 1978 the town purchased the cottage from the Rolfe estate. After standing unused for decades and falling into disrepair, it was saved when local citizens raised funds because they feared it would be torn down. The cottage now exemplifies the simple, affordable houses built for local workers in the late 1800s, and the Fairfield Museum uses the renovated building for seasonal programs.

Fairfield, Connecticut · United States