I'm not sure it was balloon framing, though I'm not familiar with the exact area, I'd expect 8' or so walls, a floor plate and another plate to tie the walls.
From the story, or the part I read, those things would have had to tunnel through a cinder block or two, and then two or three 2x plates to get through to the attic. That's impressive.
FWIW the floor joists for the second floor were real 2X8's, 25 foot long with nary a knot in the half a dozen or so that I inspected.
Wow!
You probably wouldn't miss it too much if you removed just one.
I have heard of some single story houses built with balloon framing it was more prevalent though in two story houses from what I have heard. At least in my area, Kansas.
We had a neighbors 2 story house across the street from us about 20 years ago burn up from a fire in the kitchen. The fire got into the wall and straight to the attic it went. If the next door neighbor to them had had a garden hose we probably could have stopped the fire spread till the Fire Dept showed up.
Our House is over 100 years old so I am not sure I would want to take any of the joists out!!!
Regards
alfa6 :>}