60 Commonwealth Avenue was designed by Snell and Gregerson, architects, and built ca. 1866, one of four contiguous homes (54-56-58-60 Commonwealth) built at the same time in a Georgian Revival style, with bow fronts and balustraded parapets above the main cornice. 54 Commonwealth was demolished in 1936 and 56 Commonwealth was demolished in 1930.

60 Commonwealth was built as the home of Judge John Phelps Putnam and his wife, Harriet (Day) Putnam.  He died in January of 1882, and Harriet Putnam had moved to the Hotel Vendôme by 1884. By 1884, 60 Commonwealth was the home of William Gurdon Saltonstall and his wife, Josephine Rose (Lee) Saltonstall.  He formerly had been an East India merchant and then became treasurer of several cotton mills. 

By the Fall of 1884, the Saltonstalls had moved to their newly-built home at 30 Fairfield Street, and 60 Commonwealth was briefly the home of George Allen. By early 1885, George Allen had moved and Harriet (Day) Putnam was once again living at 60 Commonwealth. By 1888, it was the home of cordage merchant William Bull Sewall and his wife, Lena (Ingalls) Sewall.  He is shown as the owner on the 1888 Bromley map.

He died in 1900, and his wife continued to live there until about 1906. The house was not listed in the 1907 Blue Book.

By 1908, it was the home of wholesale jeweler David Crowell Percival, Jr., and his wife, Jennie F. (Bessie) Percival.  They had lived at 486 Beacon Street in 1906. They also maintained summer homes in Marblehead Neck and Sandwich. The Parkers' son-in-law and daughter, Herman Parker and Lillian H. (Percival) Parker, lived with them.   Herman Parker was a clothier in the firm of Macullar, Parker & Co. They also had lived with the Percivals at 486 Beacon Street in 1906. David Percival died in January of 1913.  Jennie Percival and the Parkers continued to live at 60 Commonwealth.  By 1917, they were joined by Jennie Percival's son, Lawrence Percival, and his wife Evelyn (Joyce) Percival. Jennie Percival, the Lawrence Percivals, and the Parkers continued to live there in 1929.

The house was not listed in the 1930-1937 Blue Books.

By 1936, 60 Commonwealth was owned by William Bradford Sprout, Jr.  In January of 1936, he converted the house from a single-family home into a six-family dwelling.  In March of 1936, he amended his plans to increase the occupancy to eight apartments. The 1938 Bromley Atlas shows Wallace Marden as the owner of this house.