This building served as a Civil War hospital connected with the 109th NY between January and November 1863. Here hospital matron Sarah A. Palmer, "Aunt Becky," and her nurses tended sick soldiers. Disease more than war affected local soldiers. As recounted in her book The Story of Aunt Becky's Army Life: "Our hospital building consisted of an old store, and a two story dwelling house....it took but a short time to settle ourselves, and be a home in Laurel Hospital....Death waited often at our door."