[2] Thomas Hockley was a childhood friend of Furness, a fellow Civil War veteran, and an early supporter of the architect's career.

[2] The house was built on a lot bordered by South 21st, Chancellor and St. James Streets, which allowed for windows on all sides.

The entrance porch is carved out of the house's southeast corner—its twin Moorish arches (at right angles) rest upon compressed columns, with a brownstone bas-relief of an abstracted sunflower above each portal.

[3]: 193 In terms of materials, detailing and palette, the Hockley House is closely related to Furness & Hewitt's Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1871–76), which was approaching completion in 1875.

[6] Following Hockley's 1892 death, the house was bought by Mrs. Albonia Whartenby, who hired Furness, Evans & Company in 1894, to alter its interiors and add a rear addition.