Postcard, Picture

Description

Ann Lee Cottage was the original dwelling house for the Second Order of the Church Family at Mount Lebanon, NY. When the First and Second Order of the Church Family conjoined in 1896 the building was left vacant. Eldress Anna White at the North Family working with her friend Laura Langford, refit the cottage as a residence for visitors -- mostly Langford's wealthy friends from New York City. The hope was that some of these people would become Shakers. The largely unused Meetinghouse (1824) was also cleaned up so they could attend Shaker meeting while visiting. The venture failed by 1910 and Ann Lee Cottage once again stood vacant until, with all of its renovations it was seen to be a suitable residence for the Shakers who were living at the Church Family when it was sold to the group starting a private school. The Shakers lived there into the early 1940s.