the house is believed to have been built in the early 1840s by a family named bowen. alphonso bought the house at 60 auburn street (now 2038 auburn avenue), with its accompanying 1.82 acres, for $10,000 on june 13, 1851. mount auburn was once a popular area to live for upper-class cincinnatians, as it allowed those of higher incomes to escape the sweltering heat and humidity of downtown cincinnati summers. the taft residence, a greek revival domicile, was relatively modest compared to other nearby residences, which were a mix of second empire, italianate, and georgian revival.