John and Lydia Neilson built this house around 1775, and after later additions were removed it regained its original form. In the summer of 1777, knowing they were in harm's way, the Neilsons left for safety farther south. Generals Benedict Arnold and Enoch Poor then used the empty home as a headquarters to command the left wing of the American army at the western end of the American defensive line. In September 1777, American soldiers cut down thousands of trees in the area, rapidly built log and earth fortifications, and dug in along the ridge to block any British move further south. The American earthworks stretched for thousands of yards.