[1] The building, whose main façade faces south, was originally constructed as a home for Samuel Hartwell (1666–1744) and his first wife, Abigail Stearns.

[3] Built on land purchased in 1694 from Richard Rice (1608–1709),[3] only the central chimney of the Samuel Hartwell House still stands, amongst a basic reconstruction of the building.

After his death, it passed to his son, who sold the property and a few acres of its land in 1925[8] to Marion Abbie Fitch, a Boston schoolteacher, and Jane Hamilton Poor, an architect.

Three of Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell's children — Samuel, John and Isaac — were in the Lincoln minutemen that fought at Old North Bridge and on the battle road.

Mary then relayed the message to Captain William Smith, commanding officer of the Lincoln minutemen,[11] who lived a little to the west and whose home still stands along Battle Road.