Woolsey Historic Farmhouse

The Woolsey Historic Farmstead project entailed the restoration of a historic frontier farmhouse originally built in 1843.

Ellingson Contracting completed this project in 2023 in multiple phases over five years, from 2019 until 2023. The fragile state of the house required careful deconstruction of additions made after 1871 and extensive reconstruction to match the original architecture.

The “double pen” style braced frame was stabilized and then raised to improve foundations and drainage. Floors, walls, the roof, and porches were reconstructed with a combination of period-specific and modern materials. River-recovered lumber was utilized for siding, flooring, doors, and windows to match wood grains and quality typical to 1843. Doors and windows were custom fabricated, stone chimneys were restored to fully operational fireplaces, and exposed beams were hand-hewn to preserve the historical record of pioneer life in Fayetteville, AR.