The Fairchild Family House Abandoned After Coal Mine Closure

The Fairchild family established Rosehaven House on Alder Street in the town of Brookmere in 1905 after Thomas Fairchild purchased the property while working as an engineer for a nearby coal mine. Thomas, his wife Margaret, their three children, and Thomas’s mother lived in the two-and-a-half-story residence. The family income came from mining operations, engineering contracts, and company wages.

Local records described Rosehaven House as a prestigious neighborhood home with preserved Gothic details, maintained grounds, and regular repairs before changes in the mining industry affected the family’s finances.

The first warning sign appeared in 1928 when the coal company reduced operations and shortened working schedules. By 1930, Thomas received notice that his engineering position would be eliminated as production declined. The family dismissed household help, closed the upper bedrooms, and delayed repairs to the slate roof, porch structure, and damaged shutters. The coal mine closure of 1932 caused lost wages, unpaid mortgage payments, and property tax debts. In 1933, Thomas and Margaret left Rosehaven House with their children and moved to another industrial town where work remained available.

Rosehaven House was abandoned in 1934 after the coal mine closure, loss of employment, and accumulated financial debts ended the Fairchild family’s ownership. No restoration occurred, and no Fairchild relatives returned to occupy the residence. Municipal records later documented unsuccessful sales attempts and continued structural decline. Furniture, mining papers, and personal belongings remained inside while weather damaged the sandstone walls, slate roof, and wooden details. Over decades, the hedge grew around the property and the yard became neglected. The Gothic Revival Victorian house remains empty on Alder Street, deteriorating without restoration or a confirmed future owner.