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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Lincoln Log Haven

The house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and was built in 1989.

BECKET, Mass — Looking for a lincoln log home where you can feel cozy and private? Then this house is for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are discussing a log house at 236 Surriner Road.

The house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and was built in 1989. The asking price is $735,000.

The property is 2,820 square feet with 4 acres. It comes with a dishwasher, washer, dryer, gas oven, refrigerator, range, and range hood.

The property has a river rock fireplace, and two sunrooms to relax in. A spiral staircase will take you to the primary suite and bathroom with a walk and shower and claw foot tub.

We spoke to Leslie Claus Van Hise with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Barnbrook Realty.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

Claus Van Hise: True log homes are a rarity in the Berkshires, and this one stands out for its exceptional craftsmanship. From the moment you step inside, you can see the care and pride of ownership from the original builders. It’s a home that was thoughtfully created and lovingly maintained.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history? 

Claus Van Hise: "For a millennia, it was a forest," so begins a short story written by one of the owners. He chose the lot because, as he put it, "Each time I visited my son in this wooded mountain hamlet, a special calm and tranquility would overcome me..." With his daughter, they cleared much of the homesite and path into the woods themselves and built an 800 sq/ft Lincoln log cabin as a summer retreat. A decade later, they expanded it with a 2,000 sq/ft addition. 'Little by little, the house was complemented with things of beauty and convenience that brought pleasure, peace, and happiness" —earning its beloved name, the 'Log Mahal'.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

Claus Van Hise: Whether a buyer is looking for a full-time or part-time living or even as a part time rental to offset costs, this home is ideal for the buyer with discerning taste—someone who values exceptional craftsmanship, craves the serenity of nature, and appreciates the warmth and timeless character unique to a true log home.

What was your first impression when walking into this home? 

Claus Van Hise: From the moment I stepped onto the front porch and through the double doors, I felt an immediate sense of welcome. The warmth, character, and exceptional craftsmanship of the home were instantly apparent—it truly felt like home.

Are there any standout design features and/or recent renovations? 

Claus Van Hise: Standout features include the striking natural river rock fireplace with integrated log storage, a charming loft on the main floor, and a spacious second-floor primary suite. The suite is crowned by a cupola designed as a private sanctuary, offering tranquil 360-degree views—a truly unique retreat

Have you heard any memorable reactions or feedback from visitors? 

Claus Van Hise: Visitors often respond with an immediate 'Wow,' especially when they see the stunning river rock fireplace. Despite the open floor plan, many remark on how the home seems to 'hug' you with its warmth and cozy, inviting atmosphere.

What kind of neighborhood is it? 

Claus Van Hise: The town of Becket is a rural, arts-centered community celebrated for its natural beauty and cultural gems like Jacob’s Pillow. The neighborhood reflects this charm, with wooded hills, abundant wildlife, and close proximity to hiking trails and year-round outdoor recreation.

You can find out more about this house on its listing.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice or an offer to sell. If you're interested in having your property featured, please contact our sales department at sales@boxcarmedia.com.

Sheffield Craftsman Offering Workshops on Windsor Chairs

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
10:30AM / Sunday, March 29, 2026

Andrew Jack uses hand tools in his wood working shop. 

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — A new workshop is bringing woodworking classes and handmade items.

Andrew Jack specializes in Windsor chairs and has been making them for almost 20 years.

He recently opened a workshop at 292 South Main St. as a space for people to see his work and learn how to do it.

"This is sort of the next, or latest iteration of a business that I've kind of been limping along for a little while," he said. "I make Windsor chairs from scratch, and this is an effort to have a little bit more of a public-facing space, where people can see the chairs, talk about options, talking about commissions.

"I also am using it as a space to teach workshops, which for the last 10 years or so I've been trying to do out of my own personal workshop at home."

Jack graduated in 2008 from State University of New York at Purchase, and later met woodworker Curtis Buchanan, who inspired him.

"Right after I finished there, I was feeling a little lost. I wasn't sure how to make the next steps and afford a workspace. And the machine tooling that I was used to using in school." he said, "Right after I graduated, I crossed paths with a guy named Curtis Buchanan, and he was demonstrating making really refined Windsor chairs with not much more than some some flea market tools, and I saw that as a great, low overhead way to keep working with wood."

Jack moved into his workshop last month with help from his wife. He is renting the space from the owners of Magic Flute, who he says have been wonderful to work with.

"My wife actually noticed the 'for rent' sign out by the road, and she made the initial call to just see if we get some more information," he said. "It wasn't on my radar, because it felt like kind of a big leap, and sometimes that's how it's been in my life, where I just need other people to believe in me more than I do to, you know, really pull the trigger."

Jack does commissions and while most of his work is Windsor chairs, he also builds desks and tables, and does spoon carving. 

Windsor chairs are different because of the way their backs are attached into the seat instead of being a continuous leg and back frame.

"A lot of the designs that I make are on the traditional side, but I do some contemporary stuff as well. And so usually the legs are turned on a lathe and they have sort of a fancy baluster look to them, or they could be much more simple," he said. "But the solid seat that separates the undercarriage from the backrest and the arms and stuff is sort of one of the defining characteristics of a Windsor."

He hopes to help people learn the craft and says it's rewarding to see the finished product. In the future, he also hopes to host other instructors and add more designs for the workshop.

"The prime impact for the workshops is to give close instruction to people that are interested in working wood with hand tools or developing a new skill. Or seeing what's possible with proper guidance," Jack said. "Chairs are often considered some of the more difficult or complex woodworking endeavors, and maybe less so Windsor chairs, but there is a lot that goes into them, and being able to kind of demystify that, or guide people through the process is quite rewarding."

People can sign up for classes on his website; some classes are over a couple and others a couple of weekends.

"I offer a three-day class for, a much, much more simple, like perch, kind of stool, where most of the parts are kind of pre-made, and students can focus on the joinery that goes into it and the carving of the seat, again, all with hand tools. And then students will leave with their own chair," he said.

"The longer classes run similarly, although there's quite a bit more labor that goes into those. So I provide all the turned parts, legs and stretchers and posts and things, but students will do all the joinery and all the seat carving the assembly. And they'll split and shave and shape their own spindles, and any of the bent parts that go into the chair."

His gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m to 2 p.m., and Monday and Tuesday by appointment.