This building began its life as a dormitory on Staten Island, housing the workers at the county's "poor farm" from 1916 until the 1930s. At that point, The Cottagebecame the residence of the director of Seaview Hospital before being abandoned in 1973. The property was landmarked in 1985 before being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Complete renovations began in 2014.