The building, which was designed in 1866 by Charles Q. Clapp, was built the same year.

It wraps around the block that stands at the intersections of Exchange, Federal and Market Streets.

[1] The block was built by Horatio N. Jose[2] in 1866, in the wake of Portland's great 1866 fire, to Charles Q. Clapp's design.

[4] The building was originally known as the Printers' Exchange, and was the home of the Eastern Argus and the Portland Daily Press, among other newspapers.

By 1965, it was the home of Dow and Pinkham Insurance Company.