Roseland Cottage Barn Exterior Restoration

Historic New England is undertaking an exterior preservation campaign at Roseland Cottage, while considering options for interior restoration, new site interpretation and, and improvements to the visitor experience.

The project scope of work will include:

• pointing the stone foundation and resetting stone and concrete thresholds
• replacement in-kind of deteriorated asphalt and wood-shingle roofing sections
• conservation of 23 wood windows to restore structural and aesthetic integrity of sash, jambs, sills and casings
• repairs to deteriorated siding, trim, millwork, vergeboards and water table, or replacement in-kind where necessary
• preparation, priming, and painting of the entire barn exterior

About the Roseland Cottage and the Barn:

Roseland Cottage was designed and built in 1846 in the Gothic Revival style by Joseph C. Wells, a prominent mid-nineteenth century architect, as the summer home of Henry Chandler Bowen and family. The landscape and outbuildings of Roseland Cottage were carefully integrated into the overall design. The barn is of frame construction in the Gothic Revival style with board and batten siding, ornamental vergeboards, and decorative gable drops and finials. It is supported by a field stone foundation with exposed granite slabs. Originally it was comprised of just a carriage room and hayloft (the space under the north gable), but a large addition to the barn was planned and executed c. 1870 in keeping with the original design and nearly tripled the barn’s size. Today, the Barn is a vital, public-serving structure that houses the site’s visitor center and public restrooms, function and programming space, and a top tour highlight: the nation’s oldest surviving indoor bowling alley.

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Project goals:

• Address deteriorated features, mitigate threats of water infiltration, and secure the exterior envelope of the 1846 main barn at Roseland Cottage before there is irreparable loss to historic fabric or a disruption to its program of use.

Photos

The project is supported by generous grants from:

• Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office

Become a member of Historic New England or donate to the Preservation Maintenance Fund to support the ongoing care of Roseland Cottage and all Historic New England sites!