The Georgian revival house is reputed to have been designed by Boston architect Joseph E. Chandler.

She and her husband, Avery Robinson, vice-president of a cordage mill, lived on the estate until 1923, when they sold it to Henning Chambers, a brokerage firm executive.

As the mansion had been the site of a grisly double homicide, the bank which came to own it found no buyers despite offering it for sale for over three years.

In 1980, Helen Combs, a veteran contractor who had restored dozens of older mansions in Louisville, purchased it for $355,000.

Proceeds were to benefit Bellarmine University, to whom the property was gifted by its former owners, Dr. Allan and Donna Lansing.