Green Tree Tavern (Janis-Ziegler House)
# Green Tree Tavern (Janis-Ziegler House)

The Nicolas Janis House, also known as the Green Tree Tavern or the Janis-Ziegler House, is a poteaux-sur-sol French colonial style house that was built circa 1790-1791 in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. It is the oldest verified house in Missouri by dendrochronology. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the Ste. Genevieve Historic District. It is now a component of the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park.

## History

The house was built by Nicolas Janis starting in 1790 after he and his family moved to Ste. Genevieve from Kaskaskia, Illinois the prior year. In 1796 Nicolas transferred the house to his son, Francois Janis. Around 1803 Fancois Janis decided to open up a tavern in his home. It was in this tavern that on November 14, 1807 the first Masonic Lodge in Missouri, Louisiana Lodge 109, met for the first time. This lodge was also the first Masonic lodge west of the Mississippi River. The Janis family continued to own the house and tavern until 1833 when it was purchased by Mathias and Barbara Ziegler. The Ziegler family ran the tavern until the 1850s when the family closed it down and converted it back into a house. The Ziegler family continued to live in the house until the 20th century. In 1966 the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the National Historic Landmark Ste. Genevieve Historic District. It was acquired by the state in 2017, but was subsequently given to the National Park Service. It is currently a part of the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park which was established in 2018.

## Architecture

The house is an excellent example of French poteaux-sur-sol construction. The infill used between the logs is bousillage, a mud and debris mix (straw, grass, and hair typically). This house contains one of the least altered interiors of a French Creole house in the area. Notably, it has pegged rafters instead of trusses as traditionally used in French houses. There was a major renovation of the house in 1800 which removed one of the two unique triangular chimneys in the house.

