The Veblens acquired this site in 1936, five years before acquiring the nearby house. It served primarily as Veblen's study--a place where he could get away, sit next to the wood stove and read. Einstein and other friends would sometimes come over. Descendants of a family that lived there in the 1930s say that Einstein would sometimes wander by, and be invited in for a sandwich.
In 2020, this cottage was deemed eligible for national historic status, due to it being one of the few remaining examples of a smallholder farmer's dwelling. FOHW has taken steps over the years to keep the cottage dry and minimize deterioration. More work on renovation awaits progress on the Veblen House.