The Historic Village at Allaire

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gardeners cottage The three story apartment was added to the rear of the Carriage House shortly after its completion in 1833 to provide accommodations for a full time gardener. The gardener was employed to provide food for the dormitory residents and fresh produce for sale at the Company Store. While it is uncertain what was produced in the Howell Works gardens, it can be assumed a variety of vegetables and some fruits were grown. There may also have been a small orchard on the Works Company property as well.

According to company records of 1825 and 1826 Lawrence Berry was employed as the gardener during this time, but it is unclear for long he remained under James Allaire's employment. It is possible he may have been the gardener in 1836. The next gardener the Historic Village at Allaire has record of is Dibgy Odlum. Odlum, who was born in Ireland in 1800, does not appear to have come to the Howell Works Company until 1841 however, when he first appears on the Tax ratable for the Works Company with his wife Elizabeth. Odlum remained in the employ of James Allaire at least until 1850, however, we know from Allaire's letters to his second wife Calicia he was not pleased with Odlum's work.

In his letters to Calicia, Allaire instructs her to purchase produce for his family elsewhere or advises her he will be sending fresh produce from New York for his family's consumption. The food Odlum was producing, however, was probably more than sufficient for purchase by the employees as Allaire kept him in his employ.

At present it is unclear who was employed as Gardener at the Howell Works Company in 1836, however we do know the name of the Assistant Gardener during this time was a man named Totten.

Today visitors to the Gardener's Cottage can see demonstrations in quilting, household crafts and spinning as well as gardening.