This area of Fort Worth became a fashionable subdivision during the early part of the twentieth century and attracted many prominent residents. In 1906 Fort Worth banker Ben O. Smith purchased land at this site and built a home here for his wife, Frances, who hosted many Fort Worth social gatherings. In 1916 Tom Burnett, a prominent cattleman and the son of rancher S. Burk Burnett, purchased the home. In 1919 Tom Burnett transferred title to his wife, Ollie Lake Burnett. Their daughter, Anne, and her husband, Guy Waggoner, also lived in the house. The site is historically significant for its association with these two prominent Fort Worth families.