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24a. Log Cabin (Port Rowan Conservation Area)
24b. Log Cabin (Old Chelsea, Que.)
24c. Log Cabin (Salem, 1820) This is very old in this region.
Log cabins existed in the Scandinavian region of Europe around 8000 B.C.
The 'style' was brought to North America by Swedish and Finish settlers about 1638.
The majority of the original European settlers were fleeing from events in their birth countries; wars, disease, famine, unjust war, religious intolerance and much more!
In most cases the settlers arrived to a land that was far more savage and hostile than they had been told. (Despite inflamed stories to the contrary, the original settlers, the aboriginal peoples, often did their best to share knowledge and help the new arrivals.)
Obviously, while fighting for survival, the Europeans were not going to worry about style and decoration. As a result the earliest architecture comprised of products that were at hand to create crude LOG HOUSES and STONE CABINS OR COTTAGES.
What to look for (clues)
- (Earliest) Rough-hewn logs laid horizontally on top of one another.
- Various types of 'cuts' were made at the corners to lock the logs in place.
- Simple materials such as moss would fill in the chinks between the logs.
- (Later) Squared timber was used.
- The size and location of door and windows reflected the need for safety and convenience.
24d. An example of a corner
24e. Log Cabins (Erin)
A different type of log cabin where the small, round logs are cut into specific lengths then stacked with some form of mortar holding them in place.
Where to find it
Where to find it
A surprising number of log structures still exist in the lesser settled northern area of our provinces where trees are readily available.
'Pioneer Settlements' (museums) are also available.
There are also large, modern, 'kit-form' log houses that exist. This will be a later posting. For the time being here are two examples of modern log houses.
24f. (Modern) Log Cabin (Salem)
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