The Rutland house was the first of the Sanibel Historical Village and Museum's buildings to be moved to the museum grounds, a circa 1913 farmhouse built by W.D. Swint, and owned by Clarence Rutland from 1928 until his death in 1982. It was moved in 1984 to City property next to the Sanibel City Hall. Rutland came to Sanibel in 1895 with his family, was an assistant lighthouse keeper with his stepfather, and fished, farmed, graded roads, among a multitude of other occupations. Well loved, he was known as Uncle Clarence to islanders.