The newel gets a lot of action these days but remains immovable.
The integral block at the base of the newel post measures 6 1/2 inches square and about 10 inches tall.
Below the base, the end of the newel has two tenons that project through the floor. The tenons are drawn tight to the subfloor by wedges driven into slots in the tenons.
The pedestal is braced by the stringer and the first riser and tread and locked in by finish flooring.
The carriage is about as simple as they come. On one side, a 1-inch apron is nailed to the wall, and the 1-inch stringer is nailed to that. Treads and risers are also 1 inch thick. All of the wood is quarter-sawn oak and that is the secret to the stair's strength and longevity.
On the open side, the finish stringer, which is also the carriage, is supported by a flat-framed wall tied together with oak laths and plastered on both sides.