The house was built by Joseph A. Leonard. Shortly after the 1906 earthquake and fire, his company bought the Ingleside Race Track to develop a residential area now known as Ingleside Terrace. When the houses in Ingleside Terrace were sold, sales were restricted to Caucasians only. In 1957, Judge Cecil F. Poole purchased the house. He was the first non-white property owner in Ingleside Terrace.