Stagville Stair

This pegged through tenon on the stairs at the Great Barn at Stagville show the care and detail that went into the construction of the building. To reinforce the steps this way showed a long term thoughtfulness that puts us into the mind of the enslaved builders who made this barn.

This same kind of care went into the construction of the stairs at Horton Grove, a two-story home, which is unique to the construction of the enslaved peoples' homes. Just like the stairs would need to be reinforced in the barn to haul up materials and supplies, they would need to be just as secure to carry the weight of weary feet at the end of a tough day.