It replaced a three-story building at the site, also owned by Rood, which had burned down in October 1872.

[4] Over the years, the building's tenants have generally consisted of offices or residences and at least one restaurant.

[8] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 4, 1988.

[2] The Rood Building is a four-story timber frame structure clad in brick.

[3] The building originally had an L-shaped layout; the head of the "L" formed the narrow facade on Pearl Street and the foot of the "L" had a couple storefronts on a former pedestrian walkway.