The history of the house itself, 228 Maine Street, is intertwined with the history of the original owners. Alpha Delta Phi (ADP) was the first Greek Fraternity to establish itself on the Bowdoin campus. The local chapter was founded in 1841. After using spaces on Maine Street and Cleaveland Street, the chapter bought a house at the corner of Maine and Potter in 1898.

Alpha Delts occupied the house continually until 1924. In that year, the old house (shown at right) was cut into three sections and moved to other parts of Brunswick. On November 1, the cornerstone was laid for a new house. The new house was designed as a Georgian Revival by Felix Arnold Burton '07. Burton also designed the Robinson Gateway, the renovation of the Theta Delta Chi house, and the renovation of Massachusetts Hall.

In the late fifties and early sixties, the house was expanded in several directions. The dining room was expanded to the north, while a three-story addition was built in the back of the house. The first floor of that addition, the Daniel Waterman True (ADP '17) Library was dedicated in 1963.

When the Bowdoin Chapter closed in 1971, the house was leased to the college until the group was rechartered five years later. The chapter then occupied the house until June 2000. Although they had fought to remain open, the chapter voted to sell the house to the college. Visitors to the house can still see the influence of ADP: its trademark green, their seal painted in the stairwell, and most noticably, their letters above the roof.

The college followed AD's request to name the building after one of its most beloved members, Roger Howell, Jr., '58. Although open during the 2000-01 school year, the house will be closed next year for required renovations, including fire code and ADA compliance.