It was built in 1858 by Lewis Harrington, then occupied 1886 to 1932 by Harry Merrill, who served as superintendent of local schools for 33 years.

[2] The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 for having local significance in the theme of education.

[3] It was nominated for its association with Harry Merrill, arguably the single most important educator in Hutchinson's history.

Key architectural elements were a front gabled entrance and a one-story, shed-roof entry porch.

Hutchinson residents erected a stockade around the center of town and chose Lewis Harrington as their captain.

Various other alterations also occurred in the years between 1890 and 1915, including the addition of a screened pavilion on the south and a bedroom on the north.

[2] Merrill had a substantial impact on his adopted hometown, holding the post of superintendent for 33 years.

In 1909, when the state authorized vocational education, Merrill began agriculture, manual training, and domestic classes in Hutchinson.

In 2002 a fire destroyed the kitchen wing and severely damaged the interior of the rest of the house.

The city's park system managed the building, and a local committee began supervising its upkeep and interpretation.