Rose Arbor was built for and originally occupied by Dr. Bliss A. Marven (1861–1938). Formerly a teacher and principal of Port Elgin Superior School, Dr. Marven left the position to pursue a career in medicine. He began practicing in Hillsborough shortly after graduating from the University of Vermont in 1886. He also served as chairman of the local school board, the county coroner, and the port physician for both Hillsborough and Hopewell Cape.

Dr. Marven had four younger brothers, two of whom, George and Edgar, were also physicians. A third brother, Joseph A. Marven, was the owner of Marven’s Biscuit Co., a business that achieved widespread success across Eastern Canada in the early 20th century.

As for the residence itself, Rose Arbor combines original Queen Anne Revival-style elements with later Craftsman additions. The original build features a decorative painted skirt that divides the two floors, a two-storey box window on the building's side, and two two-storey bay windows on the front façade. In 1920, a two-storey veranda was added to the front façade. This addition is in the Craftsman style, which at the time was extremely popular.

The building's interior is well preserved, with numerous pieces of period furniture and a double parlor that can be partitioned with a folding oak divider. In the front corner of the building is a circular dais that served as Dr. Marven’s waiting room, with a flight of stairs that leads downstairs to his office.