Existing comment:
Gardener's Cottage:
Henry Clay's wife Lucretia delighted in her gardens, pleasure grounds and greenhouse. According to an account written by her daughter-in-law, "every thing was kept in the most beautiful order" by a competent white gardener, with his efficient enslaved workers. The Clays' gardener likely resided in this cottage designed by Thomas Lewinski, a noted local architect. Lewinski had previously overseen alterations to Ashland and designed homes for two of Henry Clay's sons. Lewinski would later be the architect of the present Ashland, built by Henry Clay's son James in 1856.
An article by the renowned Kentucky architectural historian Clay Lancaster, suggests during Henry Clay's time the cottage may have been embellished with tracery bargeboards on the eaves. Inside, the mantels and upper bannisters are of an early period and may have been transferred from Clay's main house during Lewinski's alterations.
During the James Clay era, the cottage likely remained the residence of hired help. It is also possible that James and his wife, Susan, resided here during construction of the new mansion (1853-1856). In August 1863, Susan Clay advertised the cottage as available to rent.
In 1866, Ashland passed out of the Clay family and became home of the Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical College. The cottage, like all the dependencies, was pressed into service to help meet the needs of the students. According to the annual report of the Regent of Kentucky University dated June 23, 1868, the cottage housed sixteen students. They were organized under the name of the "Ashland Batching Club" and lived four to a room in each of the two rooms on the first and second floors. The "ell" or back extension of the cottage housed a dining room and kitchen.
Not much mention is made of the cottage during the McDowell era (1882-1920), but it may have been used once again to house hired help. After Ashland opened as a museum in 1950 it served as a residence for an overseer. According to the minutes of a 1951 board meeting of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation, plans were made to renovate the "James Clay house in the rear" for a groundskeeper. It remained as housing for maintenance staff until the 1980s. The cottage underwent a total renovation in 1992 and was converted to offices, multi-use space and restrooms. |