Their daughter Charlotte was independent, rebellious, and interested in music, art, promoting social progress, and stimulating conversation.

[4] The house was constructed in 1914–1915 as a wedding gift from the parents of Charlotte Whitney Allen to her and her husband.

[4] Charlotte did not inherit her full share of the Arnot family trust until her mother died in 1936, and Steele charged high prices for his time and talent.

At the end of the garden lawn, there was a swimming pool, into which a clamshell fountain spilled water.

According to Robin Karson, important additions to the garden were made in 1926, 1934, and 1938, respectively representing Steele's interest in "modernism, eclecticism, and exoticism.

[1] As of the end of the year 2023, the Whitney Allen House in Rochester, Monroe County, New York is not listed in the National Register of Historic Places.