BUTLER’S PANTRY
Located between the main kitchen and the dining room, the butler’s pantry was reserved for the butler and was separate from the kitchen; this was surely appreciated by the Fabyans’ cooks Margaret Dwyer and Pearl Butler. Butler’s pantries were popular for wealthy homeowners of the era and were a designed space for storage of silver, fine china, and serving dishes. They offered a space outside the bustling kitchen to plate meals, count and clean the silver, and care for the expensive dishes used for serving the Fabyans.
The Butler’s Pantry was a southern addition to the original farmhouse and was part of Wright’s design in 1907. This room contains the servant’s callbox, on the north wall (pictured at top). When a button was pressed, like the one in the dining room, an arrow in the callbox pointed up to the name of the room and the bell would ring. The servant would see where he or she was needed and would reset the arrow by pressing the button on the bottom of the box. Call buttons may still be found on the enclosed porches, dining room and in the Colonel’s bedroom. Adjacent to the call box is the door to the basement—not included on the tour—which contained the butler’s living quarters, storage, and laundry.
In the lower cabinets you will see Nelle’s silver serving tray, engraved with her initials, along with a crystal decanter and various era pieces. Also, on the counter are replicas of bells that were worn by the Fabyans’ cattle. Feel free to give one a ring!
Continue into the Fabyans’ kitchen.
