The house's exterior has been changed only by the c.1890 addition of porches on the south and west sides and later by the addition of a metal raised-seam roof and by the removal of cornice returns. The house is "imposing", standing out from the appearance of small farmhouses in the area. According to its NRHP nomination, it was also deemed significant "as an example of indigenous American building techniques of the nineteenth century. The coursed ashlar on the main facade and almost rubblestone surface on the remaining sides gives a rich texture to its simple form. Through the use of wood splayed lintels to emphasize the windows and doors, the builder showed a desire for originality. The house is the largest limestone residence in Lafayette County and recalls an era when Gratiot*s Grove was a thriving lead-mining settlement."[3]
