Brothers William and Darwin Martin were partners in the Martin and Martin Polish Company, which made both shoe and stove polishes. Wright designed houses for both of the Martin brothers, and also designed the Larkin company headquarters in Buffalo and a summer home in Derby, NY for Darwin.

The building as designed by Wright was just two stories high; the upper floors were added after a fire in 1913.  The windows on this side have been bricked in and other changes made.  The building now serves other commercial uses.