The former William Howard House was originally a log and frame house built in 1799 by William Howard, a millwright. A stone house later replaced the log home c. 1805.

John Hill purchased this property from Dr. Rolph Marsh in 1853. The Hill Family owned and operated the Newlin Grist Mill for some time. R.W. Hill owned the property consisting of 62 acres at the time of the 1924 tour. The land was used for a time by the Ward Mushroom Company and was known as the Ward Mushroom Tract. After failed zoning plans for a cemetery and trailer park on the land, the property eventually fell into ruin at the end of the 20th century and was sold to developers. Little evidence remains of the William Howard House or “John Hill Homestead” today.