The largest of Charles Town's late-nineteenthcentury houses is built of red brick and is dominated by a massive, round, three-story tower with a conical roof. The tower cornice, gables, and paneled chimneys display carefully designed and beautifully executed brickwork. A well-preserved front porch with wooden spindlework balusters and turned posts along with unusual metal finials where the gables begin, are also noteworthy features. Still, the overall impression of restraint and plainness, verging on Victorian dourness, is perhaps appropriate, as John Brown was hanged near where the north wall of the house was built.