![]() Gristmills, or mills for grinding grain, were erected. Public buildings came later as Appalachian communities began to grow. Other buildings on the homestead were blacksmith shops, corn cribs, smoke or meat houses, tool sheds, well houses, wash houses and root cellars. Notable log barns called “single cribs” were also built, which held livestock, corn or hay. These include the Robert Cleveland Log House in Wilkesboro, the Vance House at the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, and the David House at the Mountain Farm Museum in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.” “Some good examples of well-restored log houses within the region are maintained by museums and historic sites. Some you might not recognize when you see them-the log structures have been covered up by modern materials or additions,” Cathey said. Although some are abandoned, I’ve seen some small log houses that were adapted many years ago for use as hay or tobacco barns. “There are countless log houses that date to the earliest settlement period all the way to the late 20th century, as well as many rustic cabins that date to the 1920s and 30s, throughout the mountain region. The more elaborate, two-story homes had two rooms separated by a hall and a stairway that led to a long upstairs room, building an English style called “Hall and Parlor.” She said that some restore with a careful eye on historical appropriateness, but plenty will move to modernize, not necessarily with the intent to maintain the older structure’s look.Īccording to “Historical Survey of Log Structures in Southern Appalachia,” the first homes of early settlers were often temporary, one-room structures used until nicer homes were built. Restoration Specialist Jennifer Cathey of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources said that preserving the old log homes of Western North Carolina is an important and growing effort among scholars and builders who have a connection to not only the architecture of the log home but the history. ![]() ![]() ![]() This process is unique to old cabins new structures of today often use concrete. Large spaces were covered by rocks or extra wood, and then holes and spaces filled with the mixture. The practice of filling the gaps was known as chinking, and it was done so with a mixture of clay and mud. While structures like outhouses were usually built in the rough, cabins were structured to be secure against weather and insects. These fitted tightly together, forming a strong joint.” Each log is hewn with an inverted V on the edge and on the underside. “V-notching, characteristic of Pennsylvania German houses, found its way to the Appalachian mountains. According to the essay, saddle or round notching was often used because it was “quick and relatively easy.” Another style is v-notching. What really separates the Appalachian log cabin from log cabins across America is the system of notching, what holds the logs in position. Most logs used during that time used would have been chestnut, oak, spruce and poplar. The masonry can mostly be traced to Scotch-Irish influence, and the design is a nod to the English. The first American log homes can be traced back to 1638 in Delaware and Maryland however, the Appalachian log cabin came from the influence of German and Scandinavian traditions in the 18th century. ![]() This amalgam comprises the very essence of what modern Appalachian culture has become. How did the log home of the past, which would most likely never be referred to as glamorous, become what it is today? What is it about log homes that draw people in? And does aesthetic appeal mean staying true to the traditional Appalachian style? Type “Appalachian log cabin” into any search engine and thousands of company Web sites appear, each claiming to recreate the “traditional” look and “rustic” feel of a genuine mountain home.Īccording to an essay printed in the Digital Library of Appalachia, “Historical Survey of Log Structures in Southern Appalachia,” what can now be considered folk art can be traced back to mostly German, Scotch-Irish, English and Scandinavian cultures. One often envisions the modest, one-room structures of the past as well as the glamorous, awe-inspiring cabins that romanticize the term “vacation home.” The evocation of the log home incites images of a beautiful blend of past and present. Example of an early Appalachian log home. ![]()
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