The Influence stands on a knoll facing Manana Island, on the west side of Main Street, just north of its junction with Fish Beach Lane.

The house is a large two-story wood-frame structure, with a hip roof, clapboard siding, and granite foundation.

Its formal facades face east (toward the street) and west (toward the harbor); both are five bays wide, with a center entrance flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a narrow cornice.

[2] Monhegan Island was purchased in 1777 by Henry Trefethren, a native of Kittery, Maine.

The house was divided into a duplex in 1829 to provide residential space for Henry's son, George.