Belonging originally to Joseph B. Bowser, this property was acquired by the artist John Hammond in 1896. Hammond, who came to head the Fine Arts department at Mount Allison University, had the house bulit in 1899 to designs prepared by the Toronto architect Edmund Burke. The building is an excellent example of the Queen Anne Revival style, combined with extensive use of shingles and the Dutch gambrel roof which are elements of the American Shingle style.

The house was acquired by Fred Ryan in 1909 and sold in 1912 to businessman Frank B. Black, who had a long and distinguished military career, served as Mayor of Sackville, was elected to the New Brunswick Legislature, and was called to the Senate in 1921.

After being acquired by Mount Allison University, the house served as home to the university President until 1975. Currently it houses the university's External Relations department, including the Alumni Office.