This house was built for Sumner Keith, c. 1860. It replaced an "extremely old low house" of Simeon Leonard. Over time the Leonard house "came to be more like a hut than a house at the last, and the hardworking girls of the family had it taken away and a new house was built which was moved away when Sumner Keith bought the old place."

This house has significant local historical associations with Sumner Keith, dealer in coal, lime, cement, fertilizer and hay. He was "one of the most prominent and substantial businessmen in Bridgewater." He was born in Bridgewater Nov. 20, 1833, the son of Edwin and Saba Hooper Keith. He learned blacksmiths and machinists trade, becoming a general mechanic. He was employed from ages 16-20 at Bates, Hyde and Co. and became the superintendant of that company in 1860-1873 (upon death of his father). Sumner Keith started his coal business in 1876. He lived here until at least the early 1900s—his land extended back to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.