Evening star., 1925-10-25
Washington o& Cabin Is Real Mansion of Canadian Ceda

Maj. Mettler and his wife became ats
tached to life in the rustic log cabins
which are the most popular habita-
tions Of that northland country of fine
hunting and fishing, and superlative
Winter sports. They decided to build
just such home in an appropriate
section of Washington. Ultimately,
they purchased the one-acre tract
where their home now stands. They
imported a carload of 30-foot spruce
logs from Maine and built their fine
log house, Of which they have never
tired after a span of 13 years
occupancy.
The spruce logs used in the con-
struction Of the Mettler home are
larger than the cedar logs which DIR.
Jaffe employed. These spruce logs
average about 10 inches in diameter.
The bark was removed shortly after
the logs were cut. Spruce is one Of
the lightest and strongest woods
grown in North America. Although
light in weight, this wood is very du-
rable and weather-resistant. 1t well
serves all the requirements Of log
cabin construction.
If the spruce trees are feiled during
the period from May to July, when
the sap Is running, 1t is simple mat
ter TO strip off the bark. To peel the
bark from the log, two circles are
cut through the bark around the cir
cumference of the log. four or five
feet apart. Then another groove IS
| cut connecting these. An exc blade
is then inserted to start the bark. II
Is easy to remove the bark.
| Pine, fir, spruce and cedar are all
satisfactory woods for log-cabin con
struction, while maple, birch and
beech are woods which are too heavy
for such purposes. Cabin-builders
4 ~ u. ~ L.
| logs are cut are more conservative
| than they formerly were in their log
harvest activities. They have come
to appreciate the significance OF the
old saying: "It takes 20 minutes TO
cut down a tree, and from 80 to 40
years to grow another"
In building his spruce-tinnbered
home Maj. Mettler used timbers as
skids upon which the spruce logs
were raised to their permanent posi-
ton IN the wall. roof or ceiling.
| Where the logs are uncommonly
| large and heavy, ropes are sometimes
used to expedite the "skidding" of
| the logs into proper place.
The log frame of the house was
/ first assembled intact, and thereafter
the door and window openings were
were cut out. The cracks between
! the closely notched and fitted logs
cement. Strips Of ordinary quarter
| round were fitted and nailed into
| place to fill these cracks on the in
| terror OF the house. These strips
were then stained the same color as
| the natural shade of the wood.
| The Mettler cabin Is built In such a
way on the peak of a hill, that 1t was
! comparatively easy to excavate, build
substantial rock walls and make a
| large basement or ground where the
kitchen and dining rooms are 10
Gated.
| The upper floor includes a large
living room with d huge fireplace,
several baths, and five other rooms.
A wide porch extends along the front
of the house, and is so elevated above
the hillside that a commanding view
of the neiEhboring valley results.
Wonderful old fashioned gardens are
apparently natural annexes to the
front Of the house. The beautiful
place is so secluded and screened by
foliage that unquestionably many
people have passed that way times
innumerable. without ever realizing
that one of Washington last log
cabins stood nearby.