In 1861, the Hardman Philips estate sold this lot to Ellis McClelland, who built a small house on it. In 1874, McClelland sold the property to Leander LaPorte. The Journal reported in 1874 that Mr. Jones Laporte was erecting a “fine dwelling” adjoining the new residence of Mr. G.J. Weiser. For many years, the house was owned by the Houts family, followed by Morningstars, who remodeled it extensively in the mid 1920s.