Built about 1895 by Walter N. Halderman, owner and publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal, this house served as a winter residence for his friend and editor Henry Watterson, who spent his winter working vacations here between 1900 and 1910. Constructed of tabbie mortar made by burning local seashells, it is the only remaining building in South-west Florida built in that way. It is the second oldest existing residence in Naples and was the home of Walter O. Parmer from 1916 until his death in 1938, when it was known as Palm Cottage. Between 1938 and 1944 it was the residence of Canadians George M. Hendrie and David S. Gillies, who renamed it the Hamilton Ontario House. After their deaths, Alexandra and Laurence Brown purchased it and lived here until Alexandra died in 1978, entertaining guests such as Gary Cooper, Hedy Lamarr, and Robert Montgomery. The Collier County Historical Society bought the property in 1979 for use as a permanent headquarters, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.