Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-01-23
EARLY HOMES OF
BARBOUR COUNTY
From Notes BY S. NJ. d. Koontz.

FROM IN0teS ny ~ w. H. hOuhtA.
The primitive cabins which dot
ted the hills and valleys of Barbour
County, as we'll as, West Virginia
were easily and rudely constructed
by the early pioneers who drifted
into the wilderness country to find
new homes. After selecting suit
able site usually near some good
spring, poles were cut from the
surrounding forest and laid UP much
like building pen, the window and
door was then cut in opposite sides
or end.-floors were laid of punch
cons or left bare cracks were chink-
ed with moss and mud, the chimneys
very rude type Of "cat and clay
design which consisted of rock
base with mud and sticks, The ma
jority Of these early cabins were
those Of 'squatters" but were soon
followed by more substantial class
of citizenship who purchased lands
and established permanent homes
the "squatter" cabins were speed
lily displaced by substantial log
houses built far more commodious
and for greater comfort though with
much more labor; they were usually
built Of the finest specimens Of yell
low poplar and stately oaks to be
found in the forest, and these early
builders had broad acres from which
to Gull their building material Con-
servation being unknown to them.
The trees were cut with a great deal
of care so as to prevent breaking.
The logs were then dragged to the
building site where they we're hewn
on two sides. The "house raising"
was then announced, the men and wo
men of the surrounding community,
which embraced many miles were ir-
vited to the "frolic" which event
was time Of general merry making
with the "gourd" and lineup en-
phasized with apple Jack often in
evidence, though brawls were very
rare. .--aa---
The building was started with
four expert axmen or "notchers,"
one at each corner, which was called
carrying the corners" the notching
was done after the logs were placed
the same being put up to the notches
by slipping up on skids by the use Of
forked saplings requiring six to
eight men for this work.
These log-houses varied in size
from one room usually with an at
tic to large commodious two story
structures, the roof Of clap boards
and pole weights gave way to we'll
shaved boards and shingles. The
commonplace "cat and clay" Chin
neys We're displaced by the structure
of cobblestone and an occasional
cut stone chimney. The puncheops
and dirt floor was succeeded by one Of
! boards, the moss and mud daubing
to wook chinks with mortar mixed
with straw, hair and lime adding
both beauty and durability. Where
the houses were two story great
many times the stair case leading
to the second floor was on the out
side Of the building consisting Of a
strong ladder reaching from the
ground to low upper door.
The windows and doors Of these
pioneer homes were scarce due TO
the fact that glass was quite luxury
and candle light was much cheaper.
The huge fireplace with andirons
and crane were predominant fea-
lures. From the huge beams over
head resting among the antlers Of a
deer or from the forks Of two well
polished hickory saplings hung, the
pioneers rife, old fashioned and
grim, with loom and spinning wheel
conspicuously nearby the useful fur
nishings of most all pioneer homes.
Not so many years ago, yet 30
long that to the tailor made" youths
Of today these things appear as an
cient relics Of semi-civilized age.
Where are the open fires places
with their grotesque and-irons shing
tongs and blackened crane?
Where are the candle moulds, sniffers
and candles? The shuttle and loom
spinning wheel and spirmmers Reels
| and jenimes" the pewter spoons, and
blue willow tableware that decoratsa
the boards of Barbour County's first
settlers? Where have gone the
grand fathers clocks taller than
their masters? All are slumbering
| where dust has stopped their voices
and soon these stories win appear as
the Fairy Tales of old.