McAlester House

The McAlester House at 14 East Smith Avenue combines an original log structure with later rooms styled in Queen Anne fashion. The building clearly demonstrates how a simple early dwelling was expanded and refined over time to create a larger, more ornate residence.

The house began as a simple log cabin built in 1870 during the early settlement period of the region. Additions made over the following years mark the community's growth and the owner's increasing prosperity.

The residence shows how settlers adapted their living spaces as conditions improved, blending simple frontier construction with later Victorian refinements. Walking through it reveals how people's needs and tastes evolved during the community's early decades.

The house sits in a central location within town, making it straightforward to reach, though visitors should confirm access arrangements ahead of time. The location allows you to combine a visit with other nearby historical sites in the area.

The most distinctive feature is that the original log structure has been fully incorporated into the larger house and remains accessible through a connecting passageway. This arrangement allows visitors to clearly see the contrast between the basic early construction and the later embellishments.