Designed by Tallmadge & Watson in the Prairie School style, it originally belonged to a local merchant.

His father Frederick founded a dry goods store, which Charles joined in 1871; five years later, he was named a partner.

[3] The house was designed by Prairie School architectural firm Tallmadge & Watson.

Built on a concrete foundation, the two-story house has an attic and a massive hipped roof.

The walls are built with 10-inch (250 mm) NATCO hollow clay tiles covered in cream-colored stucco.