The original house, often simply referred to as "The Farmhouse", was built on a 60 acre portion of land known as Shadow Farm, a part of a 3,000 acre parcel. The parcel was first owned by Rowland Robinson and later managed by his son Deputy Governor William Robinson and his descendents. Samuel A. Strang of New York had bought the 60 acre portion from Elisha Robinson in 1868.

In 1884 Mr. Strang began construction of The Farmhouse in the Queen Anne style. After 10 years the house, a barn, greenhouse, and other buildings were completed. Strang died in 1898 and in that same year 28 acres, The Farmhouse and other buildings were sold to John L. Welsh of Philadelphia.

Like his predecessor, Mr. Welsh was only a summer resident. In 1901, he commissioned the enlarging and remodeling of The Farmhouse in the Colonial Revival style that is still evident today. Included in the remodeling was landscaping by the firm of Frederick Law Olmstead.

Mrs. Welsh called this her "Silver Lake Cottage" and loved the moonlight view over the lake. Daughter Sarah Roberts inherited the house, but most of the original estate was sold in 1978 and became the condominium development known as Shadow Farm.

We purchased the property in 1998 with the objective of operating it as a Bed & Breakfast. Improvements and renovations were made over a number of years, the most recent of which are a Rhode Island State approved fire protection sprinkler system and a Class-A alarm system.

Silver Lake Cottage
361 Woodruff Avenue
Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879
ph: 401.782.3745 • fax: 401.792.2292
e-mail: info@silverlakecottage.com