 Four of the seven historic houses in the district were built by members of the Howe family in the first half of the 19th century.The house were industrious, and several of its members were involved in the shoemaking trade, which at that time was a cottage industry operated out of people's homes or small outbuildings.Both the Edward Howe House (5 Ipswich) and William Howe House (7 Ipswich) were used in shoemaking operations until late in the 19th century.