Built during 1899–1903, the house's design was published by the Knoxville, Tennessee architectural firm of Barber and Klutz in an architectural pattern book.

Work on the house began in 1899, but George Ferris was killed in 1900 when he was thrown from a runaway carriage near his mine.

The house was completed in 1903, and Julia Ferris lived there until her death at 76 in 1931.

The roof is irregular, and exterior details are accented with a variety of materials, as is appropriate in a Queen Anne building.

Once subdivided into apartments, the house was restored as a single-family residence.