The exterior walls are of rusticated stone cut from a local quarry operated by Merritt Black himself.

The stone is a bit unusual for Queen Anne, but the varied surface finishes, the bay windows, the 3-story corner tower, the asymmetry, and the complex roof are all typical of the style.

If the shape of the house looks a bit abrupt for Queen Anne, it may be because it originally had broad porches wrapping around several sides, which have been removed.

The carpenter was Gus Keck, the mason Joseph Schwenderman, and the painter Walter Cuel.

J. Merritt, the youngest surviving son, helped his father farm and operated a stone quarry.