Nicholas Oakes, who had this house built, was a manufacturer of brick and tile, and his brick and tile yards were located just down the street to the south. His house has the format of a late Federal/Greek Revival design, but it was brought up-to-date with Italianate details: segmental arched windows and a bracketed gable roof. The house was purchased in 1936 by the painter Grant Wood, and he lived in the house until his death in 1942. Wood “restored” the house during his occupancy—which meant in part that he “Colonialized” it, to a degree. The brick walls of the two-story house are now contrasted with white painted wood trim, green shutters, and a requisite white picket fence.