The Caldwell Cottage on Maple Terrace

The Caldwell family established their cottage on Maple Terrace in 1909 after Samuel Caldwell purchased the Queen Anne residence following his success as a local textile merchant. Three generations lived there, including Samuel, his wife Louise, their children, and later grandchildren who helped operate the family store. Their income came from textile sales, fabric distribution, and regional clothing contracts.

Local records describe the cottage as a distinctive neighborhood home with active bedrooms, a small office, and regular upkeep. The tower, porch, and stained-glass rooms remained part of daily family life during the years of prosperity.

The first warning sign appeared in 1927 when Caldwell Textiles lost several contracts after larger manufacturers lowered prices. During the economic downturn of the early 1930s, Samuel reduced expenses by dismissing household assistance and closing the upstairs tower room used for guests. Repairs to the copper roof, wooden balcony, and exterior trim were postponed as debts increased. After Samuel died in 1932, his children disputed ownership and delayed selling the cottage. By 1934, unpaid property taxes and inheritance disagreements forced Louise and the remaining family members to leave Maple Terrace.

The Caldwell Cottage was abandoned in 1935 after foreclosure followed years of business decline, unpaid taxes, and unresolved inheritance disputes. No restoration occurred, and no Caldwell descendants returned after leaving Maple Terrace. Municipal records documented ownership complications and continued deterioration of the vacant residence. The interior rooms remained closed, with household papers and personal belongings left behind. Over the decades, moisture damage, structural wear, and neglect affected the wooden Queen Anne cottage. The residence remains empty on the quiet residential street, deteriorating without restoration or confirmed future ownership.