The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-13
THE OLD LOG CABIN.

zinc.
THE OLD LOG CABIN.
description of the Ancient Type OF
Now York Residences.
The old log cabin was about eighteen
feet square. In rare cases it contained
more than one room. as n general rule
but one, said Judge j. d. Julian at an
old-settlers meeting at Sugar Plain. N.
Y. 1t was built of round logs or poles.
sometimes. though not often dressed
OF little after its erection. II was
enc story high, covered with clap.
boards about four feet long. split on,
of oak timber, which. instead of being
nailed down. were kept in their places
by heavy pieces of timber called
weight poles," which werc kept a,
suitable distances apart by tho use of
small sticks of wood called "knees. I"
The boards rested OH logs extending
from one end of tho building TO tie
other, each Que ascending higher than
it's predecessor us the gable went up,
thus giving TO the roof the right pitch.
These were called cribs" except the
one forming the apex of tho roof,
which was called the ridge polo" To
prevent the first tier of boards from
slitling OH. there was placed OIL each
side split log Tor them to rest against,
called tho Quitting pole" These rest
cd Oh the ends, or logs projecting out
from the corners of the house, called
"eavcs-bcarers." When any floor other
than that provided by nature was
used it WIS made Of largo slabs split
out Of poplar or ash trees. and dressed
on one side as smoothly rs was
practicable will, q broad AZ.
This was called II "puncl,eon"
floor. and was ut first confined to
families of aristocratic prctcnsons. but
gradually came into general use. There
was but one door, the shutter 10 which
was made of clapboards and hung on
wooden hinges. with latch OH tho in
side of the same material. to which was
attached u leather string, which,
through small aperture in the shutter,
WAS made 10 hang invitingly on the
outside; the true,. indication of gen.
uine hospitality being the fact that 'rhe
la,cl,s,ring was out" Generally there
was one window, made by cutting out
the upper and under halves of two
neighboring logs. and filling the space
made vacant with creased paper, often
such us had been written on ut school.
Tho lower part of the chimney was
butt OF tliicll.llcwed pieces of timber,
OF heavy slabs. lined on the inside with
a thick coat of clay. of which material
the hearth also was made. Tho upper
part was built of small. split pieces of
timber about the size of u common lath,
and mortar made of clay and straw, tho
inside being smoothed off with the
hands of the builder so us to cover ND
the wood as far as possible. 1t was a
nice job TO build one of these chimneys,
and the man who succeeded we'll in it
became considerable man in tho com.
munity. and exceeding popular with
the women, who were then as now bit
terly opposed to ''smoky chimneys. ("
Tho openings between the logs were
stopped with small pieces of split tim
Der called "cl,inks." TO which was
added mortar made of common clay,
put on with the hands of the work.
men. No cabin was ever considered
FINISHED until it was .'chinked'' and
''daubcd." Not 4 brick, nail, plank,
glass, or single was used in one of
these early homes of our forefatll-
cr<. and such thing as paint or wall
paper was not dreamed of. Tho in
,crnal lifting up was quite us cconomi-
cal and ingenious. On one side of the
spacious fireplace. just under tho
window | have described, was set q
small table. sometimes brought by tho
family from their old home, but
generally made OF tho spot out of o few
slabs and clapboards attached to each
other. A few shelves in tho opposite
corner answered the purpose of cup
board in which to put away tic
''pcwtcr" ware. Near the door, per-
haps at the side of the window, was
suspended. over IL piece of paper pasted
on the wall, very useful and ingenious
contrivancc pronounced ''huzzeif," in
which were stuck the pins and needles
Of the family. and is the capacious
pockets of which the entire family OF
combs, big and little. coarse and fine,
together with III endless variety OF
other small craps were deposited.
Above this in exceptional cases. where
the parties were rich, Il small looking
glass was pcrchcl. In most cases there
were three beds in tho room. in which,
there was no partition. Que in each cor.
ner with its feet towards the fireplace,
and one placed crosswise between
them. On the wall behind the beds
WAS hung the entire wearing apparel
of the family. from the Oldest to the
Youngest. including that of the
daughters whose claim to tho favor Of
the young gentlemen depend on the
extent OF their wardrobe, rs well as the
spun wool. flax and tow of which they
could boast, all of which. suspended
from the jo:sts above. their iudicious
mothers proudly exhibited to tho
admiring gaze Of their suitors rs SO
many evidences of their matrimonial
fitness. These were sensible mothers.
OF course their daughters did not re-
main long in tho market. 10 use q
commercial phrase. "tlley were taken. -
just over the door rested tho much
needed rifle. and OH rack suspended
from the josts in front of the fire.
place We're hung up to dry any quantity
! of Yankee pumpkins, cut out in rings,
resembling miniature wheels
| without hubs or spokes. In the ..loft, -
as it is called, were stored away the
| sage and catnip of the women and the
hickory nuts and wanuts of the junior
HoosicrS. On the outside wall were
stretched the skins of divers "varmints''
, and in the chimney corner. under few
projecting boards. tho pillow and gear
were laid away to rest. Though this
description is believed to be a, fair one
Of this class of pioneer homes Through.
out the west. it is taken from one erect.
cd by my parents near Ccntcrvillc. in
Wayne county. in which they spent
the morning of their married lives, and
in which | was born. God bless tho
dear old place! The log cabin was an
unprctcntious home. 1t was tho best,
however. the pioneer ut the time could
command. and lie was content. 1t was
10 place for the exhibition of pride or
style. Neither was rated very high in
these early homes of our ancestors.
Combining the parlor. sitt;ng-room,
bedroom, dining-room, and kitchen in
one room. it was sufficient for all pur-
poses. If q neighbor family was to be
entertained there was ample room, and
all were made welcome. If there was