ðə tˈaʊnhaʊs wʌz bˈɪlt æz ðə ɹˈɛzᵻdəns ʌv dʒˈeɪmz hˈæmpdən ɹˈɑːb, ɐ ɹᵻtˈaɪɚd bˈɪznəsmən ænd fˈɔːɹmɚ stˈeɪt ɐsˈɛmblɪmən ænd sˈɛnəɾɚ, ænd hɪz wˈaɪf kɔːɹnˈiːliə vˈæn ɹˈɛnsɪlˌɛɹ ɹˈɑːb.
The townhouse was built as the residence of James Hampden Robb, a retired businessman and former state assemblyman and senator, and his wife Cornelia Van Rensselaer Robb.