W.E Martin became enamored with Wright and his work and commissioned this house in 1902. Martin was a partner with his brother Darwin D. Martin in the E-Z Polish Company, manufacturers of stove and shoe polish in Chicago. The design of Martin's house brought Wright eight other major commissions. For the Martin brothers Wright designed the E-Z Polish factory. Darwin Martin was employed by the the Larkin Company in Buffalo, New York and he helped convince the company to have Wright design their new administration building. Darwin also had Wright design his home and a gardeners cottage in Buffalo, New York, and a summer residence in Derby, New York. In addition homes were built in Buffalo for George Barton, Martin's brother in law and for W.R. Heath and Alexander Davidson who were Larkin Company employees.