About Us and the Project

 Three Trails Cottages, LLC purchased this home in order to save it for is historical value not only as an example of a working class Craftsman style bungalow, but its significance as the birthplace of Ginger Rogers. Independence residents love the fact that Ginger Rogers called this city her hometown, but until now, no one other than people who lived in the house had the opportunity to see it. As a big Ginger Rogers fan, Marge Padgitt, owner of Three Trails Cottages, LLC took the opportunity to purchase the house in February of 2016. The house was sold in 2020 to another party and was sold again in 2023 to a relative of Ginger Rogers!  

The restoration effort was completed by HearthMasters, Inc. their crews, and subcontractors. All of the wiring was replaced, much of the plumbing replaced,  floor joists removed and replaced, the entire stone foundation was repaired, and one window was moved to a different location. 

We were able to copy the shape of the chimney from a 1942 magazine article photo in order to rebuild it as it was originally. 

The color of the house was changed to its original heritage white. 

See a Video of the project

 Gene Padgitt, VP of HearthMasters, Inc. is the general contractor, and completed most of the work on the house himself. Gene is an historic preservationist. 

Gene wanted to preserve as much of the original home as possible, and kept all of the plaster, woodwork, doors, windows, and even the original cast iron tub and corner sink in the bathroom. 

There was no kitchen to speak of, so it was recreated. 

We think he did a wonderful job, and we hope you do, too! 

 This 1906 Craftsman Style Bungalow was built by Oscar Mindrup. Oscar was a banker and real estate developer. He built the first three houses on this block at the same time. We know this because the house next door is listed as one of his houses, and all three houses are connected to the same water supply line. 

The house is considered to be a working class bungalow with unique features, which include the woodwork, porch, and columns. Audrey Elder did extensive research on this property and her work will be included in a new book written by Marge Padgitt about the Museum in the near future.