Originally built in the early 19th century by Leonard Macomber, the building at the foot of Union Street and Johnny Cake Hill in New Bedford housed a grocery store, bakery, hardware store, and barber shop. In 1870 it was purchased by Antone Sylvia who added an Italianate style gable dormer to the front. In 1976, Anne W. Baker and Doug Keffer began working on the Macomber-Sylvia building to restore it to its 1870 Italianate appearance. Unfortunately, a gas explosion in January 1977 destroyed the newly renovated building along with two others.