It was the home of George Washington Greene, a former American consul to Rome and historian.

In 1989, Ann and James Millard purchased the Windmill Cottage from the Ladd family and undertook an extensive renovation of the property.

Greene had moved to Italy for his health and the two bonded over a common interest in Italian language, antiquities, and contemporary art.

[5] In the 1860s, Greene was one of the members of the "Dante Club", a group of scholars who assisted Longfellow in his translation of Divine Comedy.

It was published in The Youth's Companion issue for May 27, 1880, edited by Hezekiah Butterworth.