From collection Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Company Collection
Belleden Cottage, West Stonington, Me. 19a.
"Belledeu Cottage, West Stonington, Me. 19a." It was originally built by Avery Fifield for his daughter Mary Ann and her husband William Sweetser in 1827. It was then renovated by their grandchild Charles Herbert Belledeu in 1912 and used as a rustic resort of sorts called "Open Harbor". The 'resort' had a few small cottages on the shore and even a tennis court in the field in front of the house. Before it became a "cottage", with the added pretensions of a cupola, plentiful dormers, an extra-tall flagpole, cobblestone piers at the road, and a property name, this place was likely a farm. The practical configuration of connected cape house, ell, and barn is common in northern New England farm architecture. The house stands on a rise overlooking Burnt Cove, west of Stonington village. The cottage, in the 1930s, was the home of Fred Williams, a fire insurance adjuster, humorist, and pianist. Williams was also the organizer of "The Stonington Symphonic Orchestra", which met there on Saturday nights. This group, according to local sources, included blacksmith Fred Judkins on bass viol, quarry worker Neil MacDonald on fiddle, drummer Carl Eaton, and George Walker playing the accordion.
