They built the 25 X 29 foot house in 1886 at the southern end of a settlement known as Day, Nebraska.

Modern grain storage facilities are located immediately west of the house, across Day Road.

[2] In 1925 the house was modified by Virgil and Helen Burke Waterman to prevent deterioration of the sod walls.

A 10 X 16 foot porch and a cistern were added to the southern side and the walls were covered in concrete.

[3][4] In 1994 the Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey knew of 14 other extant sod houses in the High Plains region.