This post Victorian, vernacular, two-story, four-by-four, clapboard, frame house is one of the earliest houses in the Town of Somerset, and one of the least changed. A back room and porch were added to the rear in the 1950s and at some point shingle siding was installed over the original clapboard. But the current owners have since removed the shingle and restored the original clapboard.

This was one of three houses built by Edward Halliday in 1901. Mr. Halliday bought 24 unimproved lots from Miles and Nora Fuller in 1899. Halliday further subdivided two of the lots into three, and had William Ough build three houses of nearly the same plan on them for him. Because these homes were smaller than the houses built up until that time, some older residents felt that they "cheapened the neighborhood."

Edward Halliday sold this house back to the Fullers in March 1902, and the Fullers rented it to John R. and Louise Cox. Mr. Cox was an employee of the Navy Department working in the Bureau of Navigation. The Coxs had two children, Rudolf and Dorothy. After renting the house for five years, the Coxs purchased it.

In June 1919 the house was sold to William and Louise Clabaugh. The Clabaughs were responsible for planting the many beautiful trees that populate the property, including an American Holly that is said to be the tallest holly around, and Ð unusual to the area -- a Russian larch.

The Clabaughs had no children but a niece, Peggy Babbington, lived with them. Peggy married Edwin (Red) Talbot, who was a detective on the Washington D.C. police force. She inherited the house from the Clabaughs in 1938 and she and Red lived there with their two children for 25 years.

The Talbots sold the house to its present owners in 1962.