This house was very likely constructed late in 1896 or early in 1897 - the home is characteristic of early New Plymouth villa's constructed before 1900 (the shape of the front gable window and roof profile above this are good indicators of an 1890s construction date).
The eastern portions of Town Sections 1604 and 1629 were owned by Jonathan C. Adams between 1879 and late 1896 and remained vacant during his period of ownership - rate books for both 1894-95 and 1896-97 confirm no dwellings were present on the sections at the start of these rating years.
The sections were purchased by Mary Lawson in 1896, and both this house and 92 Lemon Street were probably constructed soon after - it can just be seen in several circa late 1890s images held by Puke Ariki. It is unclear if the Lawson's lived here initially as they are thought to have owned property at Vogeltown, although it appears Mary may have shifted here following the death of her husband John Lawson and stayed here until her death in 1917.
Related items:
Town Section 1629, Taranaki Land Deed Index I3 page 548. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki (Lot 6) DEED49 Sheet 1 (1929), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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