MacAlpine is representative of the country houses built by more affluent county residents in the post-Civil War era to embrace fashionable architectural design and modern amenities. James Mackubin, an Ellicott City attorney, had the house built for himself and his wife, Comfort Dorsey. It was updated and expanded about a decade later to accommodate their growing family; the renovations included a mansard roof, front porch with porte-cochere, and gable-front service wing. New amenities included a hot-air furnace, attic water tank, bathroom, laundry and clothes room, and servant call bells. Gerwig was a Catonsville house carpenter who by 1882 advertised as an architect and builder. For the design of this house he likely referred to one of the many pattern books or design catalogs of the period.