Built in 1874 for a prominent businessman, the Italianate style home was designed by architect George S. H. Appleget.

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1972 and is currently owned by the state government.

A large tree named after a presidential candidate once stood behind the house and is commemorated with a historical marker.

On October 1, 1919, the Andrews estate sold the home to Laura Duncan Pearson, the wife of a local dentist and widow of a tobacco industrialist.

[4] It fell into disrepair under state ownership until early 2017 when it was bought by Tina Konidaris and Jeff Turpin.

The tree was famous for supposedly being the site where in 1844 politician Henry Clay wrote his letter opposing the annexation of Texas.

According to tradition Clay wrote the letter while sitting under this oak tree, in the yard of Colonel William Polk, at whose home he was a guest./Erected by Colonel Polk Chapter/D.A.R./1939" and "Raleigh/Historic Property/The Henry Clay Oak/Circa 1650"[11] The house is a 10,946 sq ft (1,016.9 m2) two-and-one-half story building designed in the Italianate style.

The double door entrance, topped by a two-light lunette, features vertical panels with etched glass and is framed by a ramped architrave and wooden hoodmold.