Historic New England: Roseland Cottage

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Several weeks ago, on July 3, I visited Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, Connecticut. Called the “Pink House” by locals, the house and grounds are the only Connecticut property managed by Historic New England (HNE). Constructed in 1846 by the Bowen family, Roseland Cottage combines a 19th century Gothic Revival exterior with several generations of renovation on the interior. The property is listed as a National Historic Landmark as the Henry C. Bowen house.

A pink gothic revival style house behind a boxwood garden with towering trees against a bright blue sky  The same house as before, but it’s at an angle now.  A pair of signs on a black, metal pole. The left sign is blue and reads "OPEN" in white, vertical letters. The right sign reads "Roseland Cottage 1846". Both signs feature the Historic New England logo. A black metal plaque that reads in part "HENRY C. BOWEN HOUSE... NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK... 1992" One side of a blue sign with gold lettering detailing the history of Woodstock Another side of a blue sign with gold lettering detailing the history of Woodstock The side of the pink, gothic revival style house behind a white picket fence and a lush green lawn underneath a blue sky A pink, gothic revival style front entrance viewed from the side, with a large, vertical window and an overhang with quatrefoil gingerbread on top

History of Roseland Cottage

Henry Chandler Bowen earned his money through the silk industry, a popular alternative to cotton for early 19th century American abolitionist. Bowen originally worked for the Tappan brothers, Arthur and Lewis, who founded the American Anti-Slavery Society with William Lloyd Garrison. In fact, Bowen married Lewis’ daughter Lucy Maria Tappan and had ten children with her.

By the time this house was built, the Tappan brothers had split from Garrison to form the similarly named American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. The main reason for this split was the role of women in the Society. Garrison believed in gender equality and universal suffrage, noted by his appointment of Abby Kelley Foster to the position of Treasurer, while the Tappan brothers preferred a patriarchal model. This division of men’s and women’s spaces can be seen in the construction of Roseland Cottage.

Bowen was an activist throughout his life, starting the tradition of hosting large Fourth of July parties to celebrate American Independence Day. He invited several sitting presidents to his party, and several joined the celebration. Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt sent certificates in lieu of attending, and the framed documents hang in the first floor hallway of Roseland Cottage.

An old, yellowed certificate in a gilt wooden frame. The title of the certificate reads "ABRAHAM LINCOLN President of the United States of America" in a large, gothic font A slightly wrinkled certificate in a wooden frame reading in part "Theodore Roosevelt President of the United States of America" in a thin, script font

Inside the House

The house was designed as a summer cottage for the large, wealthy family. It’s considered under-decorated for the time but is much more ornate than modern houses. Stained glass windows, decorative wallpaper, and intricate carpets bring color to the space. The rooms were decorated with American flags for Independence Day, Henry Bowen’s favorite holiday.

First Floor

The first floor was a public facing space. The Bowen family entertained many guests during their time at Roseland Cottage. Besides hosting presidents, they also invited other influential political figures, including poet and activist Julia Ward Howe and supreme court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Orange and white stained glass windows with diamond-shaped panes to the left and above a door Orange and white stained glass windows with diamond-shaped panes to the left of a door A white and blue ceramic doorknob with a flowering vine pattern A wood and plaster medallion on the ceiling intended to hang a chandelier, but with no chandelier present

South Parlor

A pair of identical parlors take up most of the first floor. Sliding pocket doors separate the rooms to keep men and women separate while socializing. I imaging the South Parlor was a space for men, as it is nearer the entrance to the house and has the mourning portrait of a boy, Winthrop Earl Bowen, the youngest of Henry and Lucy’s children who died at two years old.

Unlike the men’s rooms of other houses, the Bowens did not all tobacco or alcohol on the property. Henry tried to have his sons sign a document promising that they would never drink, smoke, go to an opera, or do a number of other fun things. Out of his six surviving sons, only one signed the document but quickly broke his promise.

A wide view of a parlor, including an alcove with seating and stained glass windows, furniture, and a fireplace  The same room as previously described from a different angle A close up of the stained glass windows in the previous images  A tall stained glass window with red and blue glass in front of a desk and matching chair. A bookshelf stands to the left of the window close-up of an orange and green stained glass window A globe lamp on a side table surrounded by American flags

North Parlor

The North Parlor, perhaps used as the women’s space, hosts a piano where the family would entertain their guests. Over the fireplace is a mourning portrait of Lucy, who died after giving birth to Winthrop. The portrait reminds me of Renaissance paintings depicting the Assumption of Mary, a Roman Catholic belief that the mother of Jesus Christ was raised directly into heaven instead of dying. Lucy is portrayed with a similar upward gaze and wears white to show her chastity.

Another favorite feature in the parlor is the mid-19th century Connecticut River Valley clock on the mantel. The clock industry was booming in Connecticut at the time of the house’s construction. You can read more about early clock manufacturing in my last blog about the American Clock & Watch Museum.

A pair of white, ceramic vases rest on a dark wooden mantel. A mid 19th century Connecticut Valley style clock sits between them in the center. A oval portrait in a gilt frame featuring a white woman with long, red, wavy hair and wearing a white linen dress is hung on the wall above the clock. The wall is covered in intricate green and golden wallpaper with a plant inspired design.  A mid-19th century Connecticut Valley style clock with a black wooden case, metal clock face, and faux marble columns on either side. The corner of a room featuring multiple levels of crown molding and two types of wallpaper A wider view of the fireplace with vases, clock, and portrait. Also visible are a pair of ornate wooden chairs with green upholstery and a side table decorated with a vase of flowers and American flags. A decorative brown piano and matching piano bench

Guest Bed Chamber

The guest bed chamber, an earlier term for bedroom, was on the first floor, separating the visitor from the family’s private space upstairs. This was a nice accommodation, with a sturdy bed, a writing desk, and easy to clean summer mats on the floor.

The corner of a room with a boarded up fireplace, three pictures hung on a light green wall, a wooden desk, and a pair of chairs decorated with American flags A dark brown, wooden writing desk with a matching chair decorated with an American flag A twin size bed with an ornate wooden bedframe and white coverlet, decorated with an American flag. A small couch is at the foot of the bed. The guest bed viewed from the side. Behind the bed is a bureau and attached mirror.

Dining Room

The Bowen’s had a large, formal dining room to entertain their guests. A unique feature in this room is the wallpaper, made by Lincrusta-Walton in the late 1870s and accordingly installed many years after the house’s construction. The wallpaper layers metal and ink to create a vibrant design. Unfortunately, like the Statue of Liberty, the metal oxidizes and turns green. Restoration of the original wallpaper is impossible, but the tour guide provided a small reproduction to demonstrate how the wallpaper looked during installation.

A black lacquer fireplace with floral designs is decorated by a pair of candle holders, a pair of vases, and three American flags. Above the fireplace is a portrait of a man. To either side of the fireplace are heavy, wooden dining room chairs

Second Floor

The second floor acted as a private space for the family, with the bedrooms located on this level. This level has lighter decorations and cottage style furniture instead of the ornate gothic revival style used on the first floor.

Lucy’s Bedroom

As a wife and mother from a wealthy family in early Victorian society, Lucy Bowen had a separate bedroom from her husband. This did not deter them from having ten children. A special object in this room is Lucy’s wedding dress. Queen Victorian popularized the white wedding dress during her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, so it’s no surprise that Lucy followed the trend during her 1845 wedding to Henry.

The tour guide holds open a tall wooden door to reveal a small, white wedding dress on a mannequin. A daybed with green floral fabric to match the curtains of the nearby window Cream and yellow floral wallpaper

Boys’ Room

With six growing boys, this room must have gotten crowded. The room was themed in green, clearly a favorite color. A long time occupant was Edward "Ned" Bowen, the second oldest sibling, who decided to retire at twenty-six years old. Must be nice.

A sparsely furnished room with floral wallpaper, a fireplace decorated with an American flag, several frame pictures, and a chair A green desk and matching green chair beside a bed underneath a window A green, pink, yellow, and cream wallpaper in a geometric and floral pattern

Bathroom

The bathroom was originally Henry’s office, as modern indoor plumbing did not exist during the construction of the house. The room connects to Lucy’s room on one side and Henry’s room on the other. Henry’s safe was too heavy to move during the bathroom installation, so it was repurposed as a vanity. According to the HNE website, if you can provide evidence of another converted safe, you will receive a free membership.

A white clawfoot tub in a pink painted room with a white baseboard

Sitting Room

Similar to Henry's office, the sitting room was a place for Lucy to write and relax. The room contains a built-in oriel seat, a wooden bench surrounded by tall windows. A line of pictures featuring the ten Bowen children sit on a marble topped table. The red and black wallpaper is a reproduction based on a scrap of wallpaper found during a renovation.

A red and black wallpaper in a maple leaf like pattern A cream colored desk and matching chair in a room with the previously described red and black wallpaper A white, wooden seat in an alcove underneath large, lead paned windows with diamond shaped glass panes A line of ten 19th century portraits on a desk

Girls’ Room

This room housed the three Bowen girls -- Mary, Grace, and Alice -- along with acting as a guest room for three visiting presidents -- Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley. The creepy Victorian doll is named Lena and belonged to the middle daughter, Grace. The girl and the doll had matching outfits, much like modern girls and their American Girl Dolls.

A twin sized bed with a white coverlet and ornate wooden headboard. The side table next to the bed is decorated with an American flag. A creepy Victorian doll with a white porcelain face, falling out black hair, and a faded dress. It sits on a daybed and leans against a pink pillow. Looking out gothic revival style windows to see the rest of the pink building with black shuttered windows

Miss Constance Holt’s Room

The last occupant of Roseland Cottage was Constance Bowen Holt, the granddaughter of Henry and Lucy Bowen, and the daughter of their oldest daughter, Mary. Called the "Great Lady of Roseland" by Woodstock residents, Constance invited newcomers to her house to assess their personality. Taking advantage of prestigious Woodstock Academy located across the street, Constance and her sister Sylvia began an annual tradition of inviting the senior class to a tea during the week before graduation. HNE continues this tradition, serving pink lemonade to match the pink house.

A pair of metal framed twin beds with matching white coverlets underneath a pair of Qing dynasty Chinese portraits hung on a mustard yellow wall. Between the beds is a round, wooden side table holding a pink tea set and a low hung painting of Roseland Cottage

Barn & Bowling Alley

While the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame may be located far away in Arlington, Texas, it can't beat the oldest extant indoor bowling alley in the United States, built by avid bowler Henry Bowen.

A favorite story from the tour described an event during the visit of President Ulysses S. Grant. After receiving a tour of the property, Grant decided to try bowling, as he had never played the sport, and reportedly rolled a strike on his first try. Always one to celebrate, Grant proposed that cigars, which were banned on the Bowen property. Henry relented to let Grant smoke in the field, and the Bowen children gathered by an upstairs window to watch.

Inside a barn-like structure with a raised, wooden bowling lane with ten pins on the right A set of ten wooden bowling pins in a triangular formation A two-foot-tall model of Roseland Cottage painted green instead of pink A mid 19th century black carriage A row of bowling balls in various sizes lined up beneath a pair of plain windows A sign with the title "Henry C. Bowen’s 1845 Building Specifications" A large three story wooden building painted brown

The Gardens

Outside Roseland Cottage and best viewed from the second floor of the house is the parterre garden, with plots of flowers separated by boxwood hedges and stone lined paths. A recent boxwood blight makes the plants vulnerable to an incurable disease, so visitors are not permitted to walk through the garden. The pathways are blocked by adorable blue gates.

An overhead view of a garden made of boxwood bushes surrounding heritage flowers A brown wooden building in the shade of several trees

Conclusion

As a flagship property of Historic New England, Roseland Cottage is much busy than the other HNE sites I have visited so far. While the tour is similar to the House Tour at Codman Estate, the visitors are more likely to be tourists interested in history rather than intense experts, so those looking for a relaxing day away rather than an in-depth lesson might prefer Roseland Cottage. Be sure to buy tickets as far in advance as you can, as this property quickly sells out, especially during a nice day.

The tour is more appropriate for children than some other house tours, with wider paths and fewer breakable objects, perhaps because the house was designed with a large family in mind. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, as climbing steps is required to enter each building. The grounds are open and fairly flat. Parts of the house tour are dimly lit, but using a flashlight to navigate and closely view objects is permitted.

Tickets are standard HNE pricing for mansions, at $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $7 for students and children, and HNE members free. Tours start on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and last for 55 minutes. Be sure to arrive early, as short lines form at the register in the gift shop, a unique feature among HNE properties.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 8/10

Accessibility: 5/10



Location: 556 CT-169, Woodstock, CT 06281, USA