[1][2] The house was built in 1853 and completed by early 1854 for William Edward Warren (1817—1877), who served as deputy comptroller of New York City and treasurer of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.

The son of an English immigrant who arrived in New York in 1841, Thomas Coldwell began as an apprentice, learning to grind files.

[6][citation needed] Aware of the land plot's geography, Vaux ensured the house embraced the steep, river-facing hill that backs it.

[6] While the recessed porch and double entrance gates are placed level with Montgomery Street, the back veranda sits on brick supports.

Two dormer windows on the front side have a bargeboard of fleur de leis and dot piercings with applied circles.

On the sides and back of the house, four dormer windows carry the same curvilinear shape but only the fleur de leis piercings remain.

The bargeboard shapes were painted maroon and pale orange, the tin awnings an alternating dark and light green.