130 people sought shelter in the storm during “the great hurricane of 1932” which caused heavy destruction to Cayman Brac in November of that year.
The home was amongst the few structures to survive the storm intact and served as a distribution point for scarce emergency supplies sent from Jamaica.
Today, the wood used to construct the home is still in good condition, despite exposure from the sun, wind and salt.
The home received the Award of Distinction for the Preservation of Historic Places in 1995 by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands.
This award was presented to Spellman McLaughlin's daughter, Brunzil Rivers, who lived in the home at the time with her family.