Pictured is Wayside Cottage.  Historians believe that it dates back to around 1715.  This makes it one of the oldest preserved residences in the United States.  Colonel Rufus Putnam, Chief Engineer of Washington’s Army, in an account of a scouting trip made before the Battle of White Plains in October of 1776 speaks of “riding as far as three or four miles south of White Plains to a tavern and listening to a conversation of Whig farmers”.  He could very well have been speaking of Wayside.

Wayside was originally built by Edmund Tompkins.  In 1761 the Varian Family moved to the cottage when James Varian, a staunch patriot, decided to move his family out of New York City when it was captured by the British to “neutral ground” as Wayside’s location was considered.  The Varian family’s tenure straddled both Colonial and post-Colonial times with Wayside Cottage serving as an inn and private residence until 1851.  In 1853 wealthy entrepreneur James Butler purchased Wayside as part of his vast country estate .  Upon James Butler’s death, the land passed to his daughter, Emily.  In 1917, during WWI, she offered 30 acres of land surrounding Wayside Cottage to the residents of Scarsdale so that they could form a community farm.   Local people subscribed to the Community Farm and were paid wages when they worked there.  The idea proved very successful and helped the residents of Scarsdale through a tough period in history.  Upon her death Miss Butler deeded Wayside and its property to The Village of Scarsdale to be used “…for the purpose of creating an historical park and for the preservation and maintenance of the ancient building for the use of educational and historical purpose, for fostering a public and democratic spirit in the community and providing a center for civic welfare, club rooms or lyceum for the use of the people of Scarsdale”.

In January of 1919 the Scarsdale Women’s Club established their clubhouse at Wayside Cottage.  After extensive renovations, it was opened in December of that year.  In 1928 the Women’s Club moved to larger headquarters and Wayside became the home of the Scarsdale Library.  In 1951, having outgrown the space, the Library moved to larger quarters.  For a year and a half Wayside sat silent and empty awaiting a new tenant.  In 1953 the Junior League of Scarsdale (now known as The Junior League of Central Westchester) was chosen to be the new custodians of Wayside Cottage, fulfilling Miss Butler’s covenant.  The League, with the help of dedicated members and local volunteers, carried out a widespread restoration of the cottage, both inside and out and returned it to its rich Colonial past.

In 2005 after years of public service, time had taken its toll and it again became evident that Wayside Cottage was in need of extensive restoration work.  With funding from New York State, Westchester County and The Village of Scarsdale, a restoration architect was hired, plans drawn up and in late 2007 a yearlong, total exterior restoration of the building began.  The building that has served the Scarsdale Community for close to 300 years now stands as both an important reminder of our past and an example of the Junior League of Central Westchester’s commitment to future generations.