Herb Cottage History (pdf)

The Old Baptistry (pdf)

A Timeline for the Herb Cottage

• In 1904, the Cottage was completely built  and being used as the Baptistry for the not yet completed Cathedral.  It is one of the oldest buildings on the  Close. It fell into disuse some years after the cornerstone for the Cathedral  was laid in 1907.  
  
  
• AHG started using it about 1916, but only as a place  to store plants and seedlings which they sold to raise funds for the gardens.  World War I curtailed some activity but in 1934 the Guild was asked to  become custodian of the Cottage. It was named The Herb Cottage because AHG sold herbs  from the herb garden adjacent to the building. By then it was 30 years  old.
   
• In 1956, renovation on the interior was  performed. Again, in 1978, more renovation was done.
   
• In the 1960's, "Baby Pan" appeared at  Cottage entryway - a gift from the Faulkner family.
  
  
• In 1997, Horsey and Thorpe Architects  restored the building, leaded-glass windows were fully revealed and skylight  roof repaired, made possible by a generous bequest from Phyllis Nitze, former  AHG member.
   
  
• In 1999, restoration of the front entrance  - a gift from Board member, McCall Revercomb in memory of  her husband,  Judge George Revercomb.  
  
  
• November, 2004, Cottage building was 100  years old. Bishop John B. Chane blessed the Cottage in a small ceremony  following the Annual Meeting.