The houses have been restored to reflect a late 17th to mid 18th-century appearance, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

The left gable, in an unusual departure for houses of its age, projects forward of the main block, providing an enclosed vestibule on the first floor.

The interior has exposed framing members that show the building's great age.

[2] The oldest portion of the house was three bays wide, and was a typical one-room structure with a chimney on one end.

[2] The house supposedly escaped destruction during the 1780 Battle of Groton Heights, in which much of New London was destroyed, because the Hempsteads had prepared a large family reunion meal, which was appropriated by the raiding British forces.