The William J. Lawless house was designed in 1908, most likely by Henry Greene, while Charles busied himself on site at the large Gamble and Blacker house building sites. The modest Lawless house recalls some of the Greenes’ simpler work of the 1904 and 1905 but with more spacious porches and balconies than their earlier houses. A long terrace of stone and wood ran across the front elevation and some of the firm’s newest construction methods were used for the depth of the overhanging eaves and distinctive beam end profiles. Mr. Lawless’ pleasure with the house convinced his neighbor and friend, George H. Letteau, to allow the Greenes to connect their houses with a pergola and brick walk in 1908.