It is the second-oldest extant building on the Portland peninsula, after the Wadsworth-Longfellow House,[4] which pre-dates it by around six years.

[5] It is believed its third storey was added well after the building was completed.

Samuel Butts (1760–1838) was a tailor who moved to Portland from Boston in 1784.

[1] A 22-room hotel occupied the building in the first half of the 20th century.

[7] From 1974 to 1981 The Hollow Reed restaurant occupied the storefront.