Bower came to Stephenson County in 1844 and, on October 16, 1846, bought the land that would be platted as Orangeville from John H. Curtis for US$950.

When Katherine died in 1944 her mother Linda inherited the house and it was deeded to Robert and Florence Shafer in 1951.

The Greek Revival influence is found in the doorway, which matches almost exactly the description put forth by Virginia and Lee McAlester in their 1984 book, A Field Guide to American Houses.

[2][3] Besides the front entrance, the house is cast in the Gothic Revival style, popularized in the United States through various publications from the late 1830s–1850s.

The Union House matches descriptions put forth by McAlester as well as in the Galena Historic Preservation Guidebook.

[2] The house's local significance, combined with its architectural importance qualified it for listing on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 11, 2000.