Together with its rural setting, this house provides a glimpse of an isolated, late 18th century cottage. J. E. Crane's 1801 map of Vernon St. and vicinity indicates that this house was owned either by a "J" or a William Keith. To the immediate south of this house, Crane indicates a Pratt's Bridge (Bridge to Middleborough) over the Taunton River. This river was deep enough at this point to facilitate ship building—this trade was conducted during the late 18th and early 19th century at Joseph Holmer sawmill, just to the west of Vernon St. Captain Benjamin Pratt built several ships here after Mr. Holmes, up to 230 tons for coastal trade. This shipyard continued as a sawmill and was gradually phased out. At any rate, this house has associations with Bridgewater's mid 19th c. shoe trade—John A. Keith and Edgar D. Keith worked in this house as cobblers from c. 1845-1880. By the early 1900's an E. Benson lived here.