George Orts, Carpenter, Antona Jung: Mason
In 1857, a block north of the Nicholson House, Henry Crocheron, built a fine new home.
“Mr. George Orts was the carpenter. Crocheron owned a cedar brake north of town and a saw mill; he picked the logs to be sawed. Orts made window blinds, sash and nearly everything of cedar. The floors were of pine. When the house was up but not weather-boarded (cornice on) a great storm came up from the northwest and the house went, barely escaping the small log house in which we were living. The house was rebuilt and ironed at the corners.
The two story structure had a double portico with wood entablature. The hallway, unlike most hallways of the period, extended across the front of the house instead of the length. A lovely stair case with a hand carved walnut rail and newel was set at the left entrance, rather than directly in front. This house was the first in the area with window with weights. The windows were shipped by water from