John Whitman was a former mayor of Midland (serving from 1921 to 1930). Whitman was also involved in several local businesses, including one which manufactured unit blocks for architect
Alden B. Dow. Late in 1934, Whitman hired Dow to design a unit block house to sit on this corner lot. Dow completed the house design by the end of 1934. The house was constructed in 1935. The design later won the grand prize for residential architecture at the 1937
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in
Paris, an event which brought recognition to the young Dow. ==Description==