This house was built around 1905 by Henry Gilkey on a lot either purchased from or swapped with Roger Leavitt in 1903. Gilkey had been both president of the Townsend-Merrill Lumber Company and president of the Cedar Falls Trust Company. At one time or another, Leavitt was vice president of both firms.

The Cedar Falls Board of Education purchased the Gilkey house from Earl and Hester Anderson in 1956 for $19,000 and used it as the public school system's central administration offices.

In 1991, the home was purchased and has been extensively restored. It is a private residence.