Black was the last mayor of the town of Fairhaven before the city of Bellingham was established in 1903.

The building was designed by Alfred Lee, who also was the architect of the Whatcom Museum of History and Art and the Bellingham Carnegie Public Library.

Whal was the founder of Wahl's Department Store which was located downtown Bellingham until 1972.

The basement was also remodeled into a dining room that could hold over 100 people.

[2] The sisters later sold the house to John and Jackie Mumma in 1963.