The house itself was originally built in 1908 as a single family residence, by a newly married couple, offspring of two early Portland families--the Hoyts and the Cooks. It was designed by John V. Bennes, an early disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, in American Craftsman architectural style.

A library addition was built in 1925 and the kitchen was enlarged during the 1950’s. After the fire in 1987, the original hip roof was replaced with a gable roof, the kitchen was further expanded, an additional room was provided in the basement and an outside deck was added at the north end of the building. With these additions the available interior floor space was increased to about 8,000 square feet. A second, larger deck was added to the south side in 1993.

Building department records show that the structure was used as a temporary boarding house during the Second World War. During the 1970’s the house served as the residence of the Honorary Consul for Finland. Guests still enjoy the Finnish sauna which he added during that time.