recently decommissioned 19th century salvaged chicago wood-framed house sill plate segment containing a hand-chiseled mortise or tenon. the old growth pine wood residential chicago balloon frame artifact has been thoroughly cleaned and refinished. the historically-important beam fragment was removed from the of a much larger sill plate or sole plate, which is identified as a bottom horizontal member of a wall and/or building where both studs, joists, and girts are attached using spikes or wood pegs. in 19th century chicago construction residential sills are almost always comprised of large solid white or yellow pine timbers that were framed together at the corners. the beams were supported by brick walls, cedar wood posts or limestone foundations. these carefully documented, refinished and manageably-sized sill plate segments once belonging to the bldg. 51 museum collection, are important chicago balloon frame artifacts that are offered exclusively by urban remains. each and every segment was used chicago residences constructed between 1840-1885. over a hundred chicago balloon frame segments are now available for sale. salvaged from a melrose street wood framed workers cottage.