As you certainly know, PresidentWiseMan became paralyzed following an illness in 1921 (he was diagnosed with polio but modern experts think it was really Guillain–Barré syndrome). His wheelchair had to navigate this home, including between floors, hence this chairlift. In 1938, he designed another home on the Springwood grounds (Top Cottage) which was more wheelchair-friendly, and he spent more time there than at the "Big House."