Four Stairs

 house, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, 1730s construction, historic house

"Constructed ca. 1737, Four Stairs began as a gable-roofed, one-room, one-story with loft log house. Its history is clearly visible in its telescoping form, which is rare in this area. Lacking reasonable access to commercial centers, it was hand-crafted using local stone, clay, and wood available on-site; nails were individually forged. The substantial status of the owner was reflected in fine detail such as the beaded ceiling joists and chair rails. Each section has been retained and treated with respect as changes of ownership, family needs, fashion, and construction practice have required alteration and expansion of the original log house. Existing stairs remained as each change took place leading to the name “FourStairs”, bestowed ca.1928, around the time when the house passed out of Jackson ownership. At that time, the house was in dire need of repair. The new owners renovated the house, adding plumbing, central heat,and other modern features. John and Mary Bird, purchasing the house in 1953, made substantial repairs and, in the 1960s, extended the house to the west in a mid-century Colonial Revival style. They stabilized and carefully restored each element of the building, replacing deteriorated fabric with compatible timber-framed work, constructed by craftsmen using old methods" -
Great Falls Historical Society