This house was built c. 1868 by Felipe Gardella. Gardella was an Italian who had constructed San Juan’s first brick building on the corner of Third and Polk streets about 1855, where he operated a general merchandise store. He built this house behind it on Polk Street where the Gardella family lived.

In the 1920s, the house was moved to its current location at the corner of Franklin and Second Streets. It has remained as a residence.