according to the lawyers pictorial register, published by the boston bar association in 1981, in the middle of the 19th century, the building was bought by dr. henry c. angell, an art collector. as the neighborhood began to change from residential to commercial, many old houses were torn down and replaced by larger buildings which dwarfed the chester harding house. one such building is the 1884 six-floor claflin building. in 1919, the house was given by martha b. angell to the american unitarian association, which housed offices there until 1933. the american unitarian association loaned the house to universalist church of america until 1961, when the two merged. in january, 1962, the boston bar association bought the house and moved its headquarters there from 35 court street. the chester harding house remains home to the boston bar association.