Miller-Cole House
c.1840
Originally built in 1840 in Markham near the intersection of 16th Avenue and Concession Rd. 9, the deed was received in 1857 by Luton Miller and sold in 1881 to Amos Cole. The stacked plank construction (see kitchen wall) demonstrates the abundance of timber at the time. It was donated to the Museum in 1970.
Plank-on-Plank Construction
This house was built using a rare type of construction known as plank-on-plank (also called stacked plank). There are (or were) at least three known plank-on-plank houses in Pickering. Planks approximately 6-10 inches by 1-2 inches wide were nailed on top of one another to create the walls. Both exterior and interior walls were thus fashioned. Windows and doors could be cut from the walls afterwards. This type of construction requires much more wood than any other type. It could only occur where there was plenty of wood available. Builders could purchase cheap cuts from local mills for less cost than regular dimensions.
Did you know?
Featured in Season 5, episode 16 of The Littlest Hobo. In the episode the dog, Hobo, helps four elderly people who "escaped" from an improperly run retirement home. The 4 escapees create a new home in Pickering Museum Village, living out of Miller-Cole house.
