Jenni House was built in 1873 near Laurel on the old Northwest Diagonal Road, which was at that time, only a trail. This road was eventually planked and made accessible to wagons by 1885. It connected Bellingham to Ferndale and eventually Canada.

It was used as a stagecoach stop where travelers could refresh themselves with a meal or an overnight stay. The house was divided between the up and down stair areas in that the only stairs were outside. This way the downstairs could remain the family’s separate area apart from travelers staying upstairs. It was know as the halfway house as it was about halfway between Fairhaven and the Nooksack ferry crossing near Lyden. At one time a community dance hall was located on the second floor.

The first sawmill located north of Whatcom was built in 1882 on a portion of Jacob Jenni’s 160 acre parcel. The fir table in the back room was originally the mill owner’s conference table. The top is a single cut plank, 8 feet long 4 1/2 feet wide and 6 1/2 inches thick. In total, the table weighs in at ~600 pounds.

Jacob Jenni donated 5 acres of property for the Woodlawn Cemetery on Northwest Road and was the first to be buried there. He died in 1886 at the age of 56.

The Old Settlers had the building moved to Pioneer Park in 1989. The upper portion of the building had to be detached during its relocation to the park. Doing so was required so that it could pass beneath the railroad trestle on Main Street. As it was reassembled, an interior staircase was added to make the building more integrated.

It is currently being shown as a residence. The tin ceiling is not original to the building, but is typical of the time and was made by W.F. Norman & Sons of Nevada, using original molds.