Lloyd Tilghman, representative of the New Orleans & Ohio Railroad, established the first seven miles of track for Paducah, connecting the town to Florence Station, Kentucky.

The Johnston-Backus Brokerage Company purchased the building in November 1976.

In 1993 Johnston and Backus retired, selling it to Charles and Carolyn Simpson, who made it an antique mall.

[3][4] The Freight House is a two-story brick structure with a limestone foundation.

It has a Tudor look with its Palladian-type windows and parapeted dormers and end walls.