Owner, Builder of Chester's First Contemporary Home Dies at 96

Known as the one of the original builders of Chester’s first contemporary home, longtime resident Marguerite “Maggie” Smyth died Monday at 96.

Chester’s first contemporary home, built in 1951 by Smyth and her late husband, Rossney Edmund Smyth, was accompanied by a guest cottage and sat upon 7.8 acres of land, according to her obituary.

Smyth was the daughter of a minister and experienced early life living on Indian reservations. She even boasted being “adopted” by the Seneca Indians of upstate New York.

Prior to marriage Smyth worked in the fashion industry and throughout life loved creating and collecting American arts and crafts. While in Chester, Smyth was a member of the Chester Historical Society and active in the Millbrook Village Society.

A viewing for Smyth will be held at 10 a.m. at William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester on Thursday, June 26.