The Queen Anne style block was built in 1882 to a design by the noted local architect George M. Coombs, and was for many years one of the primary social centers for the city's burgeoning French-American community.

It has two storefronts, separated by piers of alternating brick and granite banding, with an entrance to the upper floors projecting to their left.

It is architecturally a well-preserved local example of Queen Anne Revival executed in brick, and is stylistically similar to other buildings Coombs designed in Lewiston and elsewhere.

It was built by the local Dominican Order to house a variety of social and community services to the city's growing French Catholic population.

When opened, the Dominicans operated a school (providing both religious and secular instruction) on the premises, and it was used for worship, community meetings, and theatrical performances.