The first leanto was built after the main house was completed, and is used as a buttery (room) or pantry. The exterior walls are solid two inch thick oak planks. When the leanto was built, the roof was extended, without a break, to within six feet six inches of the ground and gave the house its saltbox shape. The second leanto addition was added in 1881 when the front roof was raised to a full two-stories in height, and the second floor was partitioned into five rooms. The original hand-riven oak clapboard exterior siding and original rafter feet are preserved in the leant-to attics.