Max was the oldest of the three brothers, and he had Davenport architect Frederick G. Clausen design a Queen Anne style home for his family in 1888.

Marycrest College was established on the property in 1939, and the Petersen home initially became the sister's residence.

After the college was disbanded in 2002 it was acquired by Chris Ales and became part of the Marycrest Senior Campus.

Single story porches with flat roofs are located on the front and east sides of the house.

[2] They are mainly found on the large dentils on the cornice, the turned Eastlake post and punched frieze on the second story porch, and a wall dormer on the central tower that has an elaborate projecting sill and triangular pediment.

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