Windmill Cottage facts for kids
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Windmill Cottage
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Windmill Cottage in 2008
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | East Greenwich, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1790 |
| Part of | East Greenwich Historic District (ID74000036) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000051 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1973 |
| Designated CP | June 13, 1974 |
Windmill Cottage is an old and special house in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. It used to be the home of a historian named George Washington Greene. His good friend, the famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, bought the house for him.
History of Windmill Cottage
The Windmill Cottage was built a long time ago, around the year 1790. In 1866, the well-known poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow bought this house. He bought it for his friend, George Washington Greene, who was a historian.
A Special Gift
Longfellow did something extra special for his friend. In 1870, he had an old windmill, built around 1818, moved to the cottage. This windmill was then attached right to the house! Because of its history and unique design, Windmill Cottage was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's an important place to protect.
Longfellow and Greene first met when Longfellow was traveling in Italy. Greene had moved there for his health. They quickly became friends because they both loved Italian language, old artifacts, and art. It was Greene who first introduced Longfellow to the famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Later, in the 1860s, Greene was part of a group called the "Dante Club." This group helped Longfellow translate Dante's famous poem, Divine Comedy, into English.
The Windmill Poem
People believe that the windmill at the cottage inspired Longfellow to write a poem. The poem was simply called "The Windmill." About ten years after the windmill was added to the house, Longfellow sent a copy of the poem to Greene. In a letter from April 18, 1880, Longfellow thought his poem might be the very first one ever written about a windmill! The poem was published in a magazine called The Youth's Companion on May 27, 1880.
