On the 1915 E Belcher Hyde map of Brookhaven hamlet, the house is identified as belonging to "Wm. Murdock," and included several vacant parcels that extended north now occupied by residences. The 1915 map also indicates a "Wm. Murdock" associated with a house on Newey Ln. (According to the 1888 Atlas of the Towns of Babylon, Islip and the South Part of Brookhaven, William Murdock also resided in the building presently located at 5 Newey Lane.) This latter William is most likely Captain William Downing Murdock (Capt. Bill, 1869-1940), suggesting perhaps that the William of this residence is another, a likely candidate being William W. Murdock (1848-1918), Capt. Bill's father-in-law.

A photograph from the Barbara Kresse Collection, was undated but perhaps taken in the 1980-90s. It had the following notation: "Martha and Paul Temme bought their house from the Murdocks. Mrs. Temme came from Germany with Ella Gerhardt. They were both friends in the city. Martha worked for Mrs. Michelsen in the city and then also in Brookhaven. She cleaned the house [Rossmore, 191 Old Stump Rd.]. They moved across the street in Brookhaven to be nearer her job. She also cleaned the Lush [house] on the river. There was a path from her house straight thru to the river, instead of roundabout on the road."

Additional research is required to establish when the house was built and early ownership.

Nototation on a photograph of the house from the Barbara Kresse Collection.