Blowing Rock in Watauga County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Edgewood Cottage

First Home and Studio of Elliott Daingerfield

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

1. Edgewood Cottage Marker

Inscription.

Edgewood Cottage. First Home and Studio of Elliott Daingerfield. These are the steps that led to Edgewood Cottage in 1890 when Elliott Daingerfield built this home/studio in Blowing Rock. He was born in Harper's Ferry, Virginia on March 26, 1859 and moved to North Carolina with his family in 1861. Elliott was given a watercolor set for Christmas by his brother, Archie, and this sparked his painting career. At the age of 21, he went to New York City, determined to study and learn more about his passion for painting. He found jobs by cleaning brushes and preparing materials in the studios of some of the prominent artists of his day. George Inness soon befriended and mentored him: a tremendous influence in Mr. Daingerfield's career., He married Roberta Strange French in 1884; the following year he became ill with diphtheria, and his doctor ordered him to recuperate in Blowing Rock. The fresh clear air, the beautiful scenery and the kind people made this the ideal place to rest, paint and give lessons. In 1891 he was devastated to lose his wife and baby in childbirth. Three years later he met Anna Grainger who became his inspiration and they were married in 1896. Two daughters, Marjorie and Gwendoline were born in the early 1900s. He was very content with his life in Blowing Rock (in the summers) and New York (in the winters) traveling, teaching and painting as his reputation grew significantly. Ff a number of commissions to come his way, particularly important was his 1911 invitation to join Thomas Moran, Edward Potthast and two others to portray the Grand Canyon for the Santa Fe Railroad. "Windwood", his second home in blowing rock was built in 1900 and his final home "Westglow", was begun in 1916. Mr. Daingerfield's works hang in the Metropolitan Museum, the National Gallery Charlotte's Mint Museum, North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh and many other museums and private collections. He died in 1932 at his studio in New York at the age of 73. Edgewood Cottage was restored by the Blowing Rock Historical Society in 2008 and is owned by the town of Blowing Rock.

These are the steps that led to Edgewood Cottage in 1890 when Elliott Daingerfield built this home/studio in Blowing Rock. He was born in Harper's Ferry, Virginia on March 26, 1859 and moved to North Carolina with his family in 1861. Elliott was given a watercolor set for Christmas by his brother, Archie, and this sparked his painting career. At the age of 21, he went to New York City, determined to study and learn more about his passion for painting. He found jobs by cleaning brushes and preparing materials in the studios of some of the prominent artists of his day. George Inness soon befriended and mentored him: a tremendous influence in Mr. Daingerfield's career.

He married Roberta Strange French in 1884; the following year he became ill with diphtheria, and his doctor ordered him to recuperate in Blowing Rock. The fresh clear air, the beautiful scenery and the kind people made this the ideal place to rest, paint and give lessons. In 1891 he was devastated to lose his wife and baby in childbirth. Three years later he met Anna Grainger who became his inspiration and they were married in 1896. Two daughters, Marjorie

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and Gwendoline were born in the early 1900s. He was very content with his life in Blowing Rock (in the summers) and New York (in the winters) traveling, teaching and painting as his reputation grew significantly. Ff a number of commissions to come his way, particularly important was his 1911 invitation to join Thomas Moran, Edward Potthast and two others to portray the Grand Canyon for the Santa Fe Railroad. "Windwood", his second home in blowing rock was built in 1900 and his final home "Westglow", was begun in 1916. Mr. Daingerfield's works hang in the Metropolitan Museum, the National Gallery Charlotte's Mint Museum, North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh and many other museums and private collections. He died in 1932 at his studio in New York at the age of 73. Edgewood Cottage was restored by the Blowing Rock Historical Society in 2008 and is owned by the town of Blowing Rock.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is March 26, 1859.

Location. 36° 7.812′ N, 81° 40.729′ W. Marker is in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, in Watauga

Elliott Dangerfield image. Click for full size.

via NCpedia, unknown

2. Elliott Dangerfield

County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (Business U.S. 321) and Ginny Stevens Lane, on the right when traveling south on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 Ginny Stevens Ln, Blowing Rock NC 28605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s and he Mountains in the High Country. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Edgewood Cottage (a few steps from this marker); St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Springhaven Inn (within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

3. Edgewood Cottage Marker

marker); Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Schenck House (within shouting distance of this marker); Blowing Rock Methodist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Creekside (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blowing Rock.

Also see . . .
1. Elliott Daingerfield. Short biography on the North Carolina painter. (Smithsonian American Art Museum) (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage. The Blowing Rock Historical Society website entry:
Edgewood Cottage is the summer home of the Artists in Residence program. The remainder of the year, Edgewood Cottage is a museum, open to the public. (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Edgewood Cottage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

4. Edgewood Cottage

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 304 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on May 1, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.