the dr. j. w. s. gallagher house is essentially rectangular, with a gabled porch on the side and another on the rear. it is two stories with side gables, a low-pitched roof, and wide eaves. the house has stucco walls with cypress trim. architectural details include a five-sided bay window on the northeast corner, sawn wood decorations, and came glasswork windows. it was nominated for being a well-preserved example of the modest residential commissions that typified purcell & elmslie's work, despite their acclaim for more prominent projects such as merchants national bank in downtown winona.