John Balch gained title to the land on November 11, 1635, through the "Thousand Acre Grant" and apparently was living on this property by 1636.

[1] The house remained within the Balch family until 1916, though with periods of tenant rental.

[2] They hired Norman Isham, a popular preservation architect, to evaluate the house.

After finding original rafters in the attic, he recommended that the back lean-to be ripped off and the southern half of the house be dismantled.

This plan was eventually modified to expose and recreate the roofline of the original story and a half structure.