The house was built in 1898 by Thomas M. Dils, who was a local contractor and builder. He died in 1902 and his wife sold the house to Harry and Alice Downer. He worked as a school teacher and principal before he became a settlement house worker. Downer is most noteworthy for his two-volume historical work, History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa.[2] He resided in this house when he prepared and published the work in 1910.
Architecture
The 1½-story structure is a side-gableCraftsman cottage with a long side wing. It features two dormers built in the Shingle Style. Many of the windows also feature diamond-shaped lights.[2]