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1984

Log Cabin Studies: The Rocky Mountain Cabin, Log Cabin

Technology and Typology, Log Cabin Bibliography
United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

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United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, "Log Cabin Studies: The Rocky Mountain Cabin,
Log Cabin Technology and Typology, Log Cabin Bibliography" (1984). Forestry. Paper 4.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/govdocs_forest/4

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'EB \ L \ga~
United Sia ies
Department of
Agric ulture

Fores l
Se rv ic e

Intermountain
Region
• The Rocky Mountain Cabin
Ogden , Utah

Cull ural Resource

Re~ o rl No 9
• log Cabin Technology and Typology
LOG CABIN STUDIES
By
• log Cabin Bibliography Mary Wilson

- The Rocky Mountain Cabi n

- Log Ca bin Technology and Typology

- Log Cabi n Bi b1i ography

CULTURAL RESOURCE REPORT NO. 9

USDA Forest Service
Intennountain Region
Ogden. Ut
' 19B4

.rr-
 THE ROCKY IOU NT AIN CABIN
By
' Ia ry l,i 1son

eDITORS NOTES

The author is a cultural resource specialist for the Boise

National Forest, Idaho . An earlier version of her Rocky
Mountain Cabin study was submitted to the university of
Idaho as an M.A. thesis .

Cover photo : Homestead claim of Dr. E. Watson, Fall Creek,

Idaho Ida te unknown).

USDA Fores t Serv i ce

Intermounta in Reg i on
1984
 TABLE Cf COKTENTS LIST Cf FIGURES

Page Figure Page

EIIITORS NOTES ...... ..... . .................................. . 1. Typical Rocky 'lountain Cabin .......................... . 2

"~STRACT............. ............. ...... ............. .. ..... ii 2. Floorplans of Eastern r.nerican Cabin TypeS ............. 11
Ar.I(lt(\jLEDGEMEN~.. ..... ••• ..... •• ••• •••••• •• ••• •• •••••••• ... iii 3. Anglo-llestern r.abin.............. ...................... 13
1. I~TRI'I)IICTION ................. .... ... ...... ............ . 4. An91o-Western Cabin .................................... 13
16
2. HISTORY OF LOG CONSTRUCTIO"............................ 4 5. ~ysioqeOClraphic "ap of the Hestern United States ......
3. r.rIJr.RAPHY OF THE QOCKY mJltTAIN P~r.ION................. 15 6. Reconstruction of a House in SUccase ................... 35
4. HISTORY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION................... 19 7. Roeky ~untai~ rahin wi th 1M Percent r.,sl'ole Extension .. 35
36
8. Rocky Mountain Cabin. Winter Floorplan .................
A. Indians and Explorers............... .... ........... 19
The Fur Trade...................................... 21 37
B. 9. Rocky ~untain r.abin. !iul'lMer F1 oorplan .................
C. ,..ining............................................. 24
D. Fanning and Ranching...... ......................... 26 38
10. Silll'1ond's Cabin. Stmner Occupation .....................
E. Transportation..................................... 2B
~: ~~g~~~~;t' St;;~;~;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~ 11. SifOl!1ond's Cahin ........................................ 38
12. Miner's Cabin in Heavy Snow............................ 39
5. APCHITECTIIRE OF THE ROCKY I'UIlNTAIN CAII1N................ 33 13. I/inter Campsite ....................................... 39
6. PAST DOCliMEKTATlON...................................... 48 14. Scattergram of RMC Gahle Extensions .................... 41
7. vF.P~ACIlLAR THE('IIIY....................................... 56 15. \lyle's Ranch. Ole Story Cabin .......................... 42
8. ORI!;IH OF THE ROCKY MOUKTIAN CABIN...................... 63 16. Frame Cabin............................................ 42
9. <;IJ~~Ry ................................................. 70 17. r,sml'orel Poof r.ahin ..................................... 44
NOTES.. •••• ••••••••• ••••••• ........ ..... .... •••••••••••• .... 74 18. Shed Roof Cabin.......... .............................. 44
IIF.FEREIICES CIT~Il............................................ 75 19. South and F.ast ~evations. 'orton raMn........ ........ 45
20. Nineteenth Century Homestead........................... 47
21. )9(1? Homestearl . ............. ........................... 47
22. Olebo Cabin........................................... 49
23. Polygon of RMC Construction Ilates.... ............ ...... 53

JJ
 Page LI ST fJ' TABLES

24. RMC Distribution ftIIong \Iestern National Forests ••••.••• 55

25. Scattergran of !tiC Sizes, rtlrth Idaho ••••••••.•.•.••.•• 60 Table Page

26. r.eorgia Corncrib....................................... 65

27. Blthullding, ItInd Hine •••••••••••••.••••.•••.•••••••••• 65 1. rtltching Types Present................................. 43

28. First Generation Type Dogtrot •••••••••• • •••••••• ,' ••...• 66 ?. Average Cabin Sizes by Use..... •••.••••••••• ••••••• •••• 51
29. Second reneration Type ~qtrot......................... 66 1. Cahin \lsage, Rig Creek I'rainage •••••• • ••••••••••••••••• 51
311. Cabin with Transitional roable Extension •.••••••••••• • .• 68 4. Cabin Types Present, Big Creek Drainage •••••••••••••••• 52

31. r.ahin wi th Transitional roable Extension •••••••..•••••.• 68

32. Liz Creek Cahin........................................ 69
33. Indian r.reek r.uard Station............................. 69
34. 8rink Realty Office.................................... 72
35. Cat-in with Enclosed Extension •.•.•••.•.••••.•.••••••••• 72
 ABSTRACT ACKNOWlEOGEftlENTS

While conducting fieldwork in southern Idaho during the SIJ1ll:1er of I wish to thank the National Forests of the Western United States

1980, I came upon nunerous examples of a t,Ype of cabin not previ- for their cooperation in the gathering of data for this report,

ously documented. This report attempts to determine how this type particularly Jerry Wyl iI!, Intermountain Regional Archeologist .

fits with other ~nown caMn types, and to find its place in present wi sh to t~ank John Ilartung for providing information and photos frOM

theories about Pmerican vernacular architectlJre. By making use of his research in the Payette National Forest of Idaho. Finall .v, I

extant reports, historical photos, and archeological site forms, it want to rec09nize the l:niversity of Idaho's lahoratory of fonthro-

is apparent this cabin type can be found throughout the Rocky 'loun- polO9Y for its assistance in the processing of graphic materials

tain reaion. AlonQ with other \Iestern studies, this report attenpts appearing in thi s report .
to show that vernacular construction patterns in the Western United

States di ffer fran those present in F.astern study areas.

-- fL
I. INTRODUCTION

While employed as an archeologist at Boise National Forest during

the summer of 1980, I became involved in a cultural resource project

concerning the typological classification of log cabins. After
reviewing the existing cabin literature and doing field surveys 1n

the Forest, it became apparent that a cabin type CanMOn to southern

Idaho had not previously been studied or recorded, that actually
very 1ittl e infonnation about cahi n construction in the United

States west of Texas was availahle.

Log cabins in the United States have generally been described as

side-gab 1ed dwell i ngs with doors in the front and sornet imes rear
walls with a fireplace centered along a gahled wall. While this
description is val id for cabins in much of the eastern United
States, a cahin type appearing in Idaho is, in many ways, quite

different. Orientation of the structure is changed so that the

gahle ends of the cahin face to the front and rear. A single door
is usually off-centered in the front wall of the cabin with an iron
stove replacing the fireplace along a gable wall. The most distinc-

tive feature of this cabin is the frontward extension of the gabled

roof, 25 to 100 percent of the length of the cahi n, whic., fc:"ms a
covered porch or work area (Figure 1). The first ail'! of this
project is to describe this cabin type--to define its architectural
attributes along with its geographical and temporal range.

1
N

Fig . 1. Cuta\'/ay axonometric drawing of a typical Rocky Mountain Cabin.

Once descrihed, this infomation I--€comes impor ta nt when used in
conjuction with other studies to make hroader conclu s io ns ahout
human behavior. For example, in the field of vernacular archi-
tecture, the results of behavioral stuJies have stressed continuity
and tradition over innovation. These works have i ncluded eval-
uations of log cabin construction. but as in t he area of archi -
tecture, the studies are overwh elminqly based on Eastern exafTlples.
After an examination of settlement patterns in t he Rocky Mountain
Region, it becOTles ~pparent tha t Western cilhi ns di ffer frofTi thOSe of
Eastern study areas, and the vernacular architectu r e of Ue Rockies
reflects these differences. It i s therefore the second aim of this

report to determine the parti cular contribution of th~ Rody

t.1ountain cahin to ~erican cahin constructioFl and to various
theories of innovation in vernacular architecture .

The data used fo r this report ~ome from three primary sources:
archeological site forms fran the northern third of Idaho . the
historical resource survey of the RiC) Creek Drain age in central
Idaho done by John Hartung, and i nfo rmation on cabin types gathered
fran 27 Na tional Forests in 8 vJeste r' n Sta tes hy the author. Photo-
graphic information was also provided fran hi storical collections of
the Univers it.v of Idaho and Wash; ngton Sta te Un ivers ity.

3
I I. HIS TORY Of LOG mils TRUC TinN (Kniffen and Glassie 1966 : 54). By the 17th century. log wa11 con-

struction of rural dwe11ings was almost universal for most of

The lise of wood to provide s helter dates ha ck to pre histor i c times. Scandinvia. Finland. the Aaltic Provinces. and Pussia (Weslager

Probably the oldest fon~ of l og housing i s the use of vertical posts 1Q71 :85-811).

se t close togethe r . This practic e seems to hav e origi nated i n the

Near East during the Neol ithic and spread across Euro pe as a part of While log technology was canmonly used across IIlJch of Europe. the

the Neol ithic cu ltural canplex. By Late Neol ithic ti me s, vertical countr i es responsible for IIlJch of the early colonization of the New

post building was the dani nan t constructi on form in a11 of Europe World--France. the Netherlands. and England--did not have it as a

except for the Far North, the Western f1editerranean, and the part of their cultural inventory. It was Sweden, probably the Woost

Atl antic coasta l areas of England. Spaces left between posts were highly developed area in terms of log technology. that sent to North

usu a11y filled wi th a wattle and daub mixtu re (stra", and sma11 American the first log cabin builders. New Sweden was founded on

branches Inixed with clay or mud). In the colder areas of the La te Delaware Bay in 1638 by the Swedish West India Company. The site was

Neolithic , P'lst s we re set close enough togethpr in the around to primarily a fur trading colony of about 200 people, who were also

ahu t each ot he r for added insulation (Kniffen and Glassie 1966:43). engaged in raising cattle and cult iv ation (Shurtleff 1953 : 163-170).

ftrcheo l ogical exal'l ple s of loq constructi on have 1-een unearthed at Swedish log construction was characterized by logs left in the round

Breeze K.vawski, Ris~ u l in , and fran several other sites in the region with notches cut in the top or hath sides about a foot from the end.

of the t-P.nd of the Lower Vistula ..nere traces of large rectangular produci ng an overhang a t the corners. Each log wa s grooved the

houses, trapezoid in plan, ha ve been l oc ated. These sites date from entire length of its l'ottOM so that it could fit tightly on top of

the Chalcolithi c Stage, ahout 20(l(l Be (GiM huta s 1956: 11R) . the log below it (Kniffen and Glassie 1966:58).

The earl iest examp l es of construction using horizonta11y laid logs New Sweden was annexed by New Netherlands in 1655. and then claimed

held t0gether by notched corners appear with the Magelmos i an culture by the British in 1664 fo11owing their conquest of New Netherlands.

fran Mesol i thic Europe. Origina11y concentrated in Oerrnark. In spite of this political confusion. the Swedish colony remained

southe rn Sweden, and northern r.ermany. the range of this technology cultura11y intact . As Engl ish settlenents grew up around New

gr adually expanded . so by the end of t he Bronze age. horizontal logs Sweden. documents suggest cultural interc~ange took place between

had renlac ed vertical posts as the dominant construction form the groups, but English settlers continued to build the i r rough

4
 Reginning in 1717 and lasting for 5(1 years, five successive waves of
structures of frilfl1e and clapboard instead of adopting the easier and
illl'1igration brought over 250,OOe Scotch-Irish to the New \/or1d
stronger Swedish log construction techniques (Shurtleff 1953:
(Wes1ager 1971 : 22C-235). The Scotch-Irish and f-ennans had ~ch in
l!i3-pn) . ~e to their sMall poou1 ation and the strong cultural
COO1'1on--similar histories of re1 igious persecution, economic unrest,
integrity of the surrounding groups, the Swedish cabin builders had
and warf~re. With these similarities, they soon became no1 itically
1 itt1e influence on the ~eve10pment or di ffusion of log construction
a1 igned against the English (G1assie 1968:8). Being a very adapt-
techni~ues in North "oerican (Wes1ager 1971 : 150-202).
able group, the Scotch-Irish were quick to imitate the Gennan con-

struction fonns, finding them superior to their native frame

The diffusion of cabin technology i n Ilnerica can be traced to the
dwellings constructed of stone or mud and covered with a thatched
interaction of two different cultural groups. Beginning in 1681,
roof (Shurtleff 1953 : 178).
the ouh1 ication of Penn's Prospectus influenced I11any Europeans from

what is now Gennany and Switzerland to come to J\oerica. This

Like the f.ennans, most of the Scotch-Irish settled oriqinally in
diverse group, known collectively as the Pennsylvania [1utch, was far
Pennsylvan ia. From Pennsy1 vania, the major direction of movement
MOre n~erous than the Swedes, exerting a stronger and wider area of
for these groups was southward along the Appalachians, with off-
c ultural influence . TIlese r c ".,ans were also log cabin huilders, and
shoots in every direction. Eventually the huilding methods
brought with them housing techniques readily adaptable to this
practiced ~.v these two groups hecal'1e the dominant construction
cnuntry of forests (Hes1ager 1971:7 n8-215). Four different huilding
I'1e thods for all of the Eastern United States south of New England,
types found in North Ilnerica can be traced to definite regions of
exce pt for the thin Tidewater strip along the outer coastal r1~in
Switzerland or GerMany (Shurtleff 1953:176). Pennsylvania r,ennan
( Kn iffen 1965:561).
log work is characterized by logs notched near their end (no

overhang), which produced box corner. Spaces be~ween logs were

As log construction became established through time, distinctively
chinked with clay, stones, poles, or shingles. The logs were
Jllnerican plans with recognizable European anticedants began to be
usually r ough or square hewn for easier hand1 ing and a more finished
built in specific areas . TIle following section will describe some
appearance (Kniffen and G1assie 1966: 59).
of these.

The second important cultural grouo was the Scotch-Irish--Scotsmen

who had ilTl11igrated to Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries .

6
 First, however, a few hasic te""s that will he us ed throughout this The only important r.erman house type, the central-chimney or

study should he defined. "Cabin" denotes a small often tenporary continental log house, was se1dem constructed outside of Gennan

dwellln9, usually one roOM In size and not fTlOre than one and one- sett1enents in Pennsylvania. The II10st important contributions of

half stories In height.. Ilhfle usually associated with log con- this region, at least for this study, were Its single and double pen

struction, cabins of clapboard, adohe, hrick, sod, and stone have cahl n types (Kniffen 1963: 558-581).
been built in different parts of the United States. In the Rocky

Mountain Region, the focus of this study, the vast majority of Single pen cabins frem the Mid Atlantic were the most numerous and

cabins were constructed of log, and when the tern "cabin" appears It Indeed bave become the typification of the "Pmerican log cabin."

will refer to a 10<1 dwelling unless otherwi se noted. It should also The two dOMinant forms have much in cOlllllon with each other: Both

be pointed out that log construction is a huilding technique, I10t a have side facing gables - the door in a wall, running parallel to

specific architectural fo"". This can he seen in the way Many the ridgepole. Both usually have an external chimney in the center

cultures In Pmerica B'lhraced roerman log technology, but still used of one qahle end, contructed of hrick, stone, 10q, and/or c1a,v
it to t..Jf1d their specific architectural fo""s . (Glassle 1963:341-343). The oldest of these is called the rectan-

9u1ar or O:Cotch-Irish cahln (Figure 7a). The dimensions of front

Now that log technology has heen established in North Pmerica, the and rear walls exceed that of side walls by at least five feet.

direction of thi s study will turn to an exal'1lnatlon of its appli- This cahin may consist of a single room or be unequally divided hy a

cation hy different peoples In diverse geographical areas. light partition Into two roems, the larger of which will contain the

Three cui tural source areas have heen recognized by geographers for fireplace and the door. A rear door, sometimes present, will be in
tbe Eastern United States. The New England tradition saw dwellings, line with the front door. This floor plan seB'lS to be directly

even from Its beginning, of exclusively frame construction. A related to that of stone and mud cahlns COlllllonly built around
synchronic series of house types developed, but basic construction Ulster, in Northern Ireland. In the United States, the rectangular
techniQues remained the same. The Tidewater South as a ..no1e also cahin 1o8S cemMOn1y found in areas ..nere the Scotch-Irish/Pennsylva-
continued this English tradition of frame construction. The third nian influence was the strongest - Into the Blue Ridge of North
and fTlOst important source area for 109 technology Is the ~Id­ Carol Ina and Tennessee, and the Upper Pledll10nt of /obrth Carol Ina
Atlantic Region. It included in Its inventory the "I" house floor (Glassle 1968:353-355; Jordan 1978:10R).
rlan, ..nich became the II10st corwnon house type frO'! the "id-At1antlc

and on into the Midwest during much of the 18th and 19th centuries.

8 g
The second fo"" is the square or Fnglish cabin (Fiqure 2b). Poughly
16-feet square, it is the traditional one-hay size of ancient English

dwellings. It was introduced to "'e r ica as a fral'le st ructure by

English colonists. Once inland, however , /IlOst were of log construc-

tion (r.lassie 1968:349-353); Jordan 1978:111).

Douhle pen cabins were also, a part of the 11id Atlantic tradition

althou~h not as common. IIsuall.v two ren construction cal'le about

through additions to ori9inally sinqle pen dwell inqs. The three b

most COT1l'1On ways this was done was to abut. second ren aQainst the
non-chir:l'1ey side of the first pen (simpl~ two pen); to build the

second pen close enou9h to the first that they I'light hath share a

---... ----...
COl!1l'1on chimney (saddlebag); or to build the second pen far enough
frOT1 the first so that a passageway wa s formed >:etween thP.l'1 hy

joining both pens with a COl1ll!on roof (Dog-trot) (Fi~ure 2c). - --- -
As the ~erican frontier moved westward, cahin building continued in

these already established forms until it reached the "Great I'cnerican

f1esert" - the r,reat Plains that stretcb 2000 miles from Texas to

Alberta, and average 400 miles

Valley and the Pocky ~untains.

in width between the Mississippi

This vast treeless land saw loq

...__... .....__... _---_

construction spu!.ter and die for lack of material (Kalman and Vissar

Iq76: IS?). Put such traditions change slo"ly; while dwellings of

sod and hay might have proved more oractical, log construction

continued as long as it was nossib1e to build that wa.v (~'e1sch

Fig. 2 . Floorplans of eastern American cabin types: a , rec tangular
1980:312). It has been noted that in most cases architectural form (Scotch) p lan ; b, square (English) plan; c, Dogtrot.
endures longer through time than the use of specific I'lateria1s, Ixlt
11
10
on the fringes of the Plains, log construction continued even when

It meant altering trad1tlonal building forms. Whlle established

Ea s tern plans continued to be constructed frOO! Virginia to Cali-

fornia, a district ca bin type began to .nake Its appearance on the

19th century ~erlcan Plains.

The "Anglo-western cahln," first rlocUl'lented by geographer Charles

Gritzner (1971), has several features different from earlier

Amer1can t.vpes. The MOst apparent change Is In the placB'lent of the

doorway - moved from under an eave to a gahle end, thus turning the
Fig . 3. Anglo-Wes tern cabin along the Mi~souri River ; photo taken
struct.ure so the gable faces forewarrl. The degree of slope In the in 1877 by David Carlisl e (from Bealer and £11.15 , 1978).
roof Is di minished, dropping In most cases ~elow 45°, and sometlnes

Is almost flat. And, whlle due more to technology than typology,

the Iron stove alMost totally replaced the fireplace as the

bullder's choice for heating and cooking (Figures 3 3nd 4).

Whlle Its definitive origin Is uncertain, several logical theories

ahou t the Anglo-western cabin have been proposed. According to

Roger Welsch, writing about Nebraska cabins, the movement of the

door came ahout because " ... logs were scarce on the Plains and the

wa lls we r e usually low - five to seven feet high - and a door In t he

eave waul d have had to cut through the s111 and plate logs, lntro-

ducll1!J s tructural lnstabll1ty. So, the main door was often centered

In the gable end, thus taking advantage of ~ slightly higher wal1."

WeI sch suggests that roof slope was lowered because It took fewer

logs, and could better support a sod roof, ComMon In that region
Fig. 4. Anglo-Western cabin from min~n9 era of Dawson Ci ty, Yukon ,
(WeI sch 1980: 319). Another poss 1 bll1 ty outlined In a study of Texas built ca, 1900 (from Bealer and Ellis, 1978).

12
log building hy Terry Jordan, is that the absence of wood ","ought III. GEOr.RAPHY Of THE ROCKY MOIJNTAIN REGION

about the construction of dugouts and semi-dugouts - dwell ings

The Rocky l10untains make up only a short segment of the geologic
partially excavated into a slope, with logs forming only the
backbone of the Anericas that extends 1r.,OCO miles (16,000 km)
superstructure. A gable entrance makes the best use of space in
from Alaska to Patagonia. The United States part of this range
such construction (Jordan 1978: 111,113). While the origin of
constitutes a north-south harrier - the continental divide -
front-gabled log structures goes back to ancient Europe (Gimbutas
separating the interior Plains from the Intermountain plateaus
1963), prototypes can be found throughout the Ea stern lin ited Sta tes
and the Pacific 110untain Systeon. The Pocky Ibuntains comprise
in the fo"" of outbuildings . Specific techniques such as corner
three provinces, each with dist i nctive land forms: the North,
notching, appear to continue onto the Plains as westward extensions
the Middle, and the Southern Rocky Mountains (Figure 5) . These,
of estah1 ished Eastern traditions (\leI sch 1980: 3IQ).
together with the Wyoming Basin, cover about 180,000 miles

(4fi6,non km), ""ich is between S-rercent and 10-percent of the

1and area of the Un i ted S ta tes •

The region's outstanding features include:

I. High peaks, ",any of which rise above 14,000 feet .

2. Great re1 ief; the summits of many or "ost of the ranges

are 5,000 to 7,000 feet (1,500 to 2,100 m) higher than

their respecti ve bases.

3. ~Iggedness, far exceeding that of the Appalachians.

4. Rocks of igneous, sedi",entary, and metamorphic origins

in diverse ~inds of uplifts and Nlsins.

15
14
 5. Sha110w so 11 s and extensive areas of hare rock.

6. Extens ive stands of coni fer forests.

7. water supplies - it is the principal water source for a

I
I
I
I quarter of the country including the Plains to the east
I
I
I
I and deserts to the west.
I
.---------
...... - ............J
I
I 8. Mineral wealth - considerable and varied.
GRiAT PLAINS

I
r-----------
I
I The three princioal divisions in the Rocky I'ountain syster1 each
-.... _--,
I
have distinctive features. The Southern Rocky Mountains fonn
I

:---------
I

I
the principal barrier to travel and May be crosse~ only through
I
I
I
high passes. Oi fferences in mean annual tempera tures between
I
I
----,- __ L _____ _ I t~e fl'()untain tops and the r.reat Plains av~rage about 35° F

~------
I
(19° C) (the upper mountains have about the same temperature
I
I rdnge as much of Alaska) . Annual snowfa11 often exceeds 70 feet
I
I
I
I
I
(6 m). The timber line reaches up to about 11,500 feet, contain-
I
I
I in9 alt i tudina11y hased zones of spruce, fir, and pine.
I
----'
The Middle Rocky Mountains have levels of both temperature and

precipitation that are slightly lower than those of the ~uthern

Rockies. Both ea rly transcontinental routes--the Oregon and

Cal Hornia trail so-crossed the mountains in this region. The

Northern Rocky Mountain region, while not as high as either the

Fig . 5. Physiographic map of the western United States (after
Hunt, 1967).
Southern or r,' iddle regions, is not topographica11y very different

from ther1. This region suppor ts the greatest population of the

16
17
 IV. HISTORY Of THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEGION
three. Milder temperatures are found with precipitation varying
with altitude, but generally drier than the lower sections.
In order to understand the architecture of the Rocky Mountain
This region contains three times the wood reserves of the
region, a brief history of its settle!l1ent 15 in order. Six groups
Southern Rockies (Hunt 1967:245-276).
which can be viewed as playing major roles in this process will be
discussed separately. First, however, a look at their antecedents.
Wi thin the Rocki es li e PIOunta i n pa rks - huge meadows, often of
considerable size. As well as providing the region's agricul-
A. Indians and Explorers
tural base, these valleys are sources for some of the !'lajor
Western rivers (Merk 1978: 240-241).
At the time of contact the inhabitants of the Rocky Mountains were
aboriginal populations thinly scattered throughout the region. Most
helonged to the Shoshone linguistic fal'lil.v with individual groups
including the Shoshone, Bannock, Paiute, and lite. Their occupation
of individual sites was seasonal at best - spending summers In the
mountains, and wintering along major water sources In the valleys
and along the plateaus. While winter activities were fairly
sedenta ry, summers were spent moving between temporary camps, taking
advantage of diverse food sources (mainly hunting, fishing, and root

ga therl ng) (Sappington 1981: 13-15) •

£nthnoqraphic accounts of ahorlginal housing reflect the usually

temporary nature of these dwellings. Winter shelter appears to have
been ouite variable In form, described as "a sort of tipl !'lade of
ryegrass" (Murphy and ltirphy 1960: 309); "shaped like haystacks and
cons tructed of branches of will OWS covered wi th long grass, so as to
be warm and canfortable" (Irving 1977: 160); "made of rush mats

18
19
wrapped around cones of poles · (Farnham 1906:316) . Summer housing ~e to t~e mobile and very temporary nature of their t i Me spent in
was even less substantial: "tops of (willows) have been bent over, the mountains, no structures of any pennanence were constructed. No
and tied so as to fo"" a lodge; over these, there have probably been log structu res other than crude lean-tos, have been recorded
stretched deer skins or blankets, to exclude the rays of the sun" (Hawgood 1967: 20-29, fi7-1!6).
(Townsend 1906 : 247).

B. The Fur Trade

"iven our present knowledge of these neople, it does not appear the,v

were cabin builders. Given their temporary nature, it would not The first people to bull d structures of any permanent nature were
have been practical to expend the amount of work necessary to bull d those who came to the Rockies for the acquisition and trade of
log structures. It does appear, however, that less substantial wood beaver pelts. This was usually set in motion \OI1en a company opened
material s were used in house construction \OI1en available. a fort in a promising area where trappers, Indian and European,

could exchange fur for trade goods.

The first westerners to venture into the Rocky Mountains were

members of the Coronado expedition, in search of the riches of the The earliest company to establish forts i n the Rocides was the
"Seven Cities of Cibola." The contingent consisted of three hundred English '\Jdson's flav r{)!T1pany. Founded in 1670, t\ldson ' s flay Company
Spaniards and perhaps a thousand Indians driving large numbers of was active in the Rocky Mountain region from the late 1700's up into
cattle and sheep, all guided hy a Franciscan Friar named Marcos. the 184~'s. Its primary rival, the Northwest Company, merged with
Between 1539 and 1542, their wanderings took them into \OI1at is now Hudson's Bay in 1821, making it by far the largest fur company
southeast Colorado, northem Arizona, and northern New Mexico. operating in the area (Hawgood 1Q 67:93-94). t\ldson's Bay posts

included the Rocky Mounta i n House on the north Saskatchewan River ,

The next exoedltion into the Qockies was headed by 'lewis and Clark the Kootenai House north of lake Windmere, the Kullyspel House on
frOM 1804 to 1806. Their party, consisting of 30 westerners and 1 the Pend Oreille lake, and forts Col vile and Vancouver in what is
Indian, was the first non-aboriginal group to cross the Continental now Washington State (Johanson 1967:93-94).
Oiv i de, passing through what is now Montana, the Idaho Panhandle,
and into Washington and Oregon. A year later (1805) Zebulon Pike Prnerican companies also attemped to establish posts in the northern
led an e xpedition into Colorado. In the next decade, more adven- Rockies. The earliest of these loBS Fort Astoria, opened by Ashley
turers followed thosp. first explorers into the uncharted mountains. in 1811 but shortl y captured by the British, and operated by

21
20
 constructed hy men-Fowler Company (Ubbelonde and others 1972:38).
Hudson's Bay until returned to AIlerica to IRI8. AIlericans continued
While descriptions are few, given the cultural background of the
to operate the fort until its abandoment in 1827. Other Prnerican
builrlers, most were probahly huilt of log. From early drawings and
canpanies set up forts in the area, hut with well-established COO1pe-
archaeological investiQations, Hudson's Bay dwell ings shared similar
tition and the increasing se ttle!llent of the area, few were
cons truct ion techn iQues - hewed logs were joined at the corners by
successful. In 1846 permanent treaties ceded all lands helow the
either heing pegged or grooved into vertical logs.
49th parallel to the United States after 28 years of joint owner-
ship, bringing to an end ~ritish control of area COMmerce (Clampitt
The other participants in the fur tade were the actual trappers.
1889: 656-657).
Along with the large nlJTlber of Indians involved, Prnericans, French

Canadians, and Mexicans were also represented. Most of the non-

In the southern Rockies, the earliest fur trade was in progress in
Indian trappers stayed into the l'1Ountains year-round either as
Colorado before 1807 by the Missou r i Fur COO1pany. The company was
independents or "hired hands" for the fur companies. Pelts were
not on the best of terms with the Spanish, who claimed owner-ship to
usually brought in on a annual basi s to a fort, or in parts of
the area, and open confrontations were taking place by 1815,
Colorado, a "rendezvous" was assembled for trade and entertaiment
continuing until P'exican independence in 1821. Permanent oosts
(Ridge and Billington 1969 : 393). Even less is known about dwellings
included Fort Robidoux on the r.unnison River, and Fort Block
of the early trappers than those of the traders. Considering their
(Ubhelonde and others 1972: ~1-38). AIlerican trappers atte!llpting to
year-round occupation, the easy access to wood, and later examples
avoid British to the north and the Spanish to the south, began
which still survive, it is prohahle I'lOst of these dwellings were
trappinq the Central Rocki es about lR24 (Rid~e and Bi 11 ington
huilt of log.
1969:343) •

Recause of the huge profits to he made, overtrappi ng hegan to take

Considering the cultural diversity of the groups involved, it is not
i ts toll by 1840, pushing the beaver to the edge of extinction.
surprising that the kind of dwell ings constructed varied widely.
About the same time, furopean fashions began to change, with silk
The larger forts and trading houses , constructed to provide storage,
hats replacing beaver in popularity. While some trapping continued
shelter and protection for employees, were typically "a palisaded
on a sl'lall scal e and still continues today, the cOMhination of these
outpos t of an empi re" (Johanson 1967: 127). The earl i est ment i on of
two factors brought an end to large-scale fur-trading in the Rockies
actual construction is from 1821 - a trading post "nine logs high"
in the early lR40's (Ridge and Ril1ington 1969 :396).

22 23
C. Mining While exl sting at different times and places, life in and around the
bnan towns seems to have had many similarities. Populations were

Probably the most illlportant force in the settlenent of the Rockies - very heterogenious - consisting of adventurers from the East, Civil

and the kind of dwellings constructed there - was the quest for gold War draft-dodgers and later veterans from the South, and aliens from

and silYer. The West's first gold boom cone in California in the all over the world. "The population was like a swarm of grass-

late 1840's. Next came discoyeries in the Washoe area of Nevada in hoppers ... gathering quickly in the area of a strike ... and

1858. The first strike within the Rocky fobuntain region came near disappearing with as much speed when the gold was exhausted" (Herk

Denyer that Sallie year (Hawgood 1967: 200-215). In 1859, 100,000 1978:417) .
would-be miners from the East, the Midwest, and the Mississippi
Valley began a migration to the Colorado gold fields although only Construction also followed similar patterns of growth. The first

about half of thelll actually made it. Two other major strikes buildings constructed on a new field were usually canvas tents

followed within a 4-year period. In 1862, a gold strike was made in (Clampitt 1889:595). Log cabins soon followed, providing fairly

the Solse BaSin, beginning a decade of booming mining activity in permanent struc tures tha t coul d be used for year-round habi ta t ion.

southern Idaho. The next year di scoveries were lOade in western In the actual cities, frame structures would begin to replace those

fobntana, bringing in miners from both Colorado and Idaho (Hawgood of log as soon as a sawmill was opened. If a town lasted several

1967: 221-223). years, brick began to be used, especially for public and comt'1ercial
buildings. This was particularly true in areas where fires had been

These gold fields seened to be playing out in the late 1860's, but a major problem. The final "step" in this process was the construc-

the 1870's brought new mineral booms to the mountain states. tion of stone and masonry buildings (Ubbelonde and others 1972:

Leadville and Cripple Creek in Colorado, and the Coeur d'Alene 78-79) •
region of Idaho became centers of activity, this time In persult of
silver ore. Montana.s also beginning the large-scale mining of ()jtside of the population centers, few 19th century bull dings were

copper. In 1880, a new gold field opened up In the mountains of constructed of anythi ng other than log except in pl aces Ii ke Nevada

Arizona (Ubbelonde and others 1972: 112-200). The final Rocky where wood was scarce and sawmills arrived very early (Browne

Mountain gold rush came in the Yukon region of Alaska and Canada in 1861:155). Fran most accounts, these non-urban dwellings continued

the 1890's. to be single pen structures. Some cabins saw only seasonal occupa-

tion, with miners working their claims in the mountains during the
24
25
 sllTl!ler, and wfntering in the valleys; for others, occupation of
several loopholes through which they could acquire vast trilcts of
Rocl\)' Mountain cabins was year round. Most dwell ings were occupied
land. Some families would go through seven or eight farms, holding
for more than one mining season, but few miners intended these
one long enough to acquire title then selling the property and
structures to be for long-term occupation. A claim would be worked
moving on. The major problem was that 160 acres proved to be too
whfle it was producing gold, but when ·color" began to play out, the
small a tract to be economically viable for agriculture. Acts to
miner would move on to bufld again elsewhere. Some early cabins saw
provide supplemental tracts for established homesteads were passed
sever al successive occupations as the value of gold fluctuated,
in 1873 and 1878 (Hawgood 1967:353-355).
experiencing a cycle of refurbishing, occupation, and abandollnent.

The homestead, unlike the mining claim, was intended for fairly
By the 1890's boom towns had either found other sources of livel i-
permanent occupation, so the original cabin was temporary untfl a
hood, or died out (Ubbelonde and others 1972:161). Mining that
larger house could be built. Often these farms would be worked only
continued consisted of professional operations with specialized
until the soil was depleted, then the family would move on (this
equipment and the capital to sink deep shafts, or small independent
usually took several years). Many famil ies did not get a choice
operations, usually in isolated areas (Johansen 1967:322).
about moving or staying--due to their lack of original capital and

inexperience with farming practices necessary in the area. About

D. Farming and Ranching
two-thirds of the homesteads fafled before title could be awarded.
Another force which helped to undermine the success of small farming
One effect of the influx of miners into the Rockies was the initi-
operations was the timber industry. At times early timber companies
ation of agricul ture in the mountain parks and valleys (Merk
would "hire" troublemakers to scare off l\anesteaders and jump their
1978:41R). Most early agricul tural enterprises were begun through
claims (Hult 1952: 113). More often, timber companies would help a
the Homestead Act of 1862. Under this legislation, any !merican
foundering farmer payoff his claim so it could be legally purchased
(citizen or alien fil ing for citizenship) over 21 and the head of a
by the company .
household could claim 160 acres of surveyed but unappropriated
public lands. The original cost was S10; after 5 years, full title
Ranching also grew along with the populations of early mining towns,
would be granted for a small fee. This granting of title could be
reaching its height in ColoradO about 1880. But over-grazing,
accelerated--gained in only 6 months--by paying $1.25 per acre.
profit-taking, and finally severe weather saw a collapse of the cow
Unfortunately, the act had several faults : Land speculators found
bonanza in the late 1880s. Large operations like those in Colorado

26 27
 were not dupllcated in the northern Rocki es. Lf ke cattl e, sheep have made sizable contributions to its settl_nt. After a major

were also a great demand; flocks were well-establfshed in the gold strike had been made, it was s~times many years before a

southern Rockies by the 1870s, a 1 ittle later in the north raflroad would reach the area, leaving wagon roads or often pack
(Ubbelonde and others 1972:167-169). trafls to provfde the only available transportation (Ubbelonde and
others 1972 : 120). If accessable to larger bodies of water, steam-
~e to the limited space and climatic extremes, inhabitants would boats were used to transport people and suppl ies, especially along

often canbine 1 ivellhoods--raising crops on a few acres and herding the lakes and rivers of northernlldaho (Hult 1952:82-83). This lack

small numbers of cattle or sheep. For this reason, farmers and of fast or economical transportation can be seen in some early
ranchers in the Rocky Mountain region will be considered as a single construction--the use of local materials llke wooden pegs instead of
group. iron nafls, leather instead of metal door hinges, and an absence of
window glass. A metal drum or even rolled sheets of metal propped

The cabi ns constructed by farmers and ranchers differ 1i ttl e in upon bricks, a "Queen Anne stove," was used as a substitute for a

appearance froo those of miners of the same area and time period. manufactured iron stove in some areas.
Instead of a single or several males, the usual owners of mining
cabins, homestead cabins were designed to be famfly dwellings and The need for a transcontinental raflroad had been recognized ever

were usually larger than other cabins . The 10ft would often be since the discovery of gold fn California. Surveys began in 1853,

floored to provide a sleeping area for the children. ~tbuf1dings congressional approval followed in 1862. Large land grants for

would also be different, reflecting specific subsistance patterns. three separate routes were set aside, but the diversion of capital

Otherwise, few differences seem to exist in surviving archeological and the political instabfl ity brought on by the Civf1 War caused

examples. With the exception of Forest Servfce cabins, early farm continued delays. Subsfdies were finally granted two corporations,

structures are the most llkely to survive over time, for after the the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, in 1863, with completion

famfly has moved into more permanent quarters, the original cabin of this f i rst transcontinental line coming in 1869 (Clampitt 1889:
usually remains for storage or for animal use. 91-96). 8y 1890, four railroads had been built over the mountains,
prov iding rafl transportation to Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and the
E. Transportatfon western Montana-northern Idaho area (Hawgood 1967: 260).

Whfle never cCl11prfsing a large percentage of the population, those

responsible for bringing raf1 service to the Rockies can be said to
29
28
 Loggers were usually trans i en t • Because of small size and the
Railroads not only provided transportation, they often induced
inaccessablli ty of their holdi ngs, independent operators usually
settlement. During the 1870' sand 1880' s, 1arge propoganda
contracted for larger companies or mill operators, moving camp
campaigns were launChed. Rail roads wanted to sell large tracts of
continously to new areas for easy cu tti ng and hauling. Many loggers
land they had been granted along right-of-ways, and even when not
were "stump rangers" - homesteaders and miners wishing to supplement
their own land, new settlers meant more business. Promotional
their incomes. In some areas farmers made up 75 percent of timber
staffs were maintained in Europe and major Eastern cities (Ridge and
crews (Johansen 1967: 400-405). Due to their impermanence, loggers
Billington 1969:623). Extravagant ' pamphlets put out in the 1880's
have left little in the way of structural dwellings. Those which
about mining opportunities brought people from all over the country
remain are similar to the ones built by miners and homesteaders in
into the northern Rockies (Hult 1952:26). While most of these
the same area, although usually a little smaller in size. The
settlers were no doubt unprepared for actual conditions, many stayed
loggers' biggest contribution to log technology can be found in the
as settlement of the Rockies accelerated.
structures huilt for the transportation of logs, systems that

deserve study in their own right.

f.~

G. The Fores t Service

While major mining towns were not without at least one sa"",ill, full
scale logging operations in the Rockies did not get under way before
The most recent major influence on Rocky Mountain settlement has
1890 (Johansen 1967:403). The "second migration of the timher
been the Federal Government, the Forest Service in particular.
industry" took place about 1900, when timber barons who had
Proposed in 1907, it was to remove millions of acres of land from
previously concentrated operations in Michigan, Wi scons in, and
the public domain, and institute restrictions that would hopefully
Minnesota moved westward, bringing new 1i fe to decl ining mining
lead to conservation, and disease and fire control. While bitterly
towns like Coeur d'Alene (Hult 1952:79-80). Small operators would
opposed by many Wes tern represen tat ives, the proposals became 1aw
cut freely on the public domain, while larger companies would either
virtually intact. Grazi ng fees were imposed, cutting 1imits were
buy their land or take advantage of generous government land grants.
set - all in an attempt to make these forests a permanent American
A peak in timber production was reached about 1913, after which
resource (Ubbe 1onde and others 1972: 276-278; Johansen 1967: 543-545).
stricter government policies, the depletion of easily accessible

timber, and some disastrous fires combined to restrict production.

30
31
Whlle the Forest Service "depopulated" many areas by repossessing v. ARCH ITECTURE
nonproducing mineral claims and buying up homesteads, it also
brought at least seasonal occupation to som~ of the Rockies' most The first section of this report explored the or1gins of log tech-

remote locations. nology and its diffusion in North ftnerica as far as the Great Plans.
The second section was concerned with the groups responsible for

Fire towers and guard stations from the first quarter of the bringing log technology to the Rocky Mounta1n region. Th1s part

twentieth century stll1 stand throughout most Forests; the great wll1 look at how a specific cabin type resulted from the combination

majority of these structures are constructed of log. Log construc- of these factors. The typology of log structures in the Rocky

tion of these government dwellings continued into the mid-twentieth Mountain region, particularly in the early stages of settlement,

century. Whlle official i.iullding manuals were in existance from at appears in many ways a continuation of styles common to the Plains

least the mid-1930's, bullders in many areas would apply these plans and eastern United States. Extant archeological examples, however,

to existing local vernacular traditions. New Oeal legislation, attest to the evolution of a different, un1quely western cabin type

specifically the CCC (Civllian Conservation Corps), also contributed in the latter stages of the nineteenth century. ~e to the fact

to Forest Service construction. Their credits include roads, that the vast majority of surviving examples lie with1n this geo-

bridges, fire lanes, and parks, as well as dwellings (Ubbelonde and graphiC region, I will refe r to thi s type as the Itlcky Itluntain

others 1972 : 301). Cabin (RMC).

First, identifying attributes of this cabin type will be cataloged.

Its close ties to the Anglo-Western Cabin cannot be denied: both
typically have a front-facing gable, with a single door off-centered
in the gable end: both have roof slopes usually under 45°; and both
show the builder's preference of iron stoves over fireplaces. The
probable reasons for these attributes being present in cabins from
the Great Plains have already been di scussed. Why they continued to
be popular in areas where wood was again plentiful indicates that
there continued to be advantages in using those techniques.

33
32
The front-facing gable was useful on the Plains because It allowed - - - - - - !.
---
,f: ,
...
, ,,,
, , "." " ,~
the construction of lower buildings , thereby using fewer logs. Its

primary advantage In the mountains was that It a110wed easier access

- , . (' .:-UII ...,.,
, . ..
.... ,,,,,,, ,
to the cabin door during periods of heavy snowfa11 - a door under an 11111 , .. ,
,
, ..", '"'
,
eave could prove difficult when snow began drifting or sliding off "
~'h " , •
. . ;IT :-;i "
,.
,~,

"" ,
the roof. A lowered roof angle meant not only easier construction,
.u
but a110wed snow to remain on the roof, providing added Insulation.

LIke Eastern fireplaces, stoves were tradltlona11y placed against a

1
gable wa11. Idea11y , the stove would be placed next to the door, as ~

close as possible to an exterior woodpile for easy access to fuel.

Because of the sma11 size of most of these cabins, the placement of Fig . (j. Recons truction of a house from the village of Succase near
Elblag (aft e r Gimbutas 1956).
both the door and stove against the front wa11 I~eant the door could

no longer be centered. Usua11y It was off-centered in symmetry with

the stove. Examples of these cabins also continued to be buflt In

the semi-dugout variation, due more to Its Insulatlve properties and

the lack of level ground, than to a shortage of logs. These attri-

butes hel p to explain wby the Anglo-Western Cabin saw popularity in

the RociIY Mountains, but the RociIY Mountain Cabin has an additional

feature: the gable end of the roof extends to an average of 50

percent beyond the front of the cabin. The extension usua11y was so

long that added support was neces~ary at its termination, this

taking the form of vertical posts.

Front-gabled structures with roof extensions are not unique to the

RoeiIY Mountain area. Neolithic examples of vertical post structures

with probable roof extensions have been archeologica11y located in Fig . 7. Ro cky Mo unt a in Cabin with a gable ext e nsi on nearing 100%
th e l ength o f th e ac tual cabin ; a Forest Service struc ture from ca .
Northeastern Europe (Figure 6) (Glmbutas 1956:122,145). Historical 19 30 (from Ca rr ey and Conley 1977).

34 35
exuples of such construction are present In Gennany, Sweden, and
In summer, however, as temperatures moderate and activity beclllle
Finland (Richards 1978: 109). The Megarons of Classical Greece al so
more outdoor oriented, the living areas would change significantly
made use of such construction (Moholy-Nagy 1957:84). In the United
(figure 9).
States, structures with a gabled roof projected above the door were
C(Jllll()n throughout the eastern United States In the fonn of smoke- ------.
houses, stables, tool sheds, kitchens, corncribs,
chicken coops, coal houses, spring houses, and washhouses (Figure
bake ovens,
It> I I

26) (Glassle 1968a:8,9). The use of this structure In the eastern

United States as an actual dwelling Is not docllllented. 1
.._-==-_.\
00 -Jji
---...
Fig. 9. Rocky Mountain Cabin, SUmmer Floorplan.
The RMC's extension Is distinctive fran these In several respects.
The most obvious of these being its extreme length, sometimes 100
Ourlng the warmer months, activities were moved fran the cabin's
percent beyond the actual length of the cabin (Figure 7). The
"Inner" to Its "outer" room. Mobile furnlshlngs--usually storage
second, and In typological tenns the most Important factor, Is the
shelves and beds--were moved to the outer roan. The stove was
use of the space beneath the extentlon. Historical and archaeo-
usually moved, but If this proved too difficult, a separate outdoor
logical evidence strongly suggests this area was a living space,
stove was "manufactured" fran a metal drum, rocks, bricks, or what-
making the Rocky Mountain cabin In many ways, a two-roan cabin.
ever material s were aVll1able. Nonmobl1e Interior furniture was
This conclusion 15 based on photos of abandoned cabins and histor-
also replaced by outdoor counterparts--especlally tables, made large
Ical photos of Inhabited structures. It can best be observed
enough to provide a satisfactory work surface and often made too
through seasonal variations In the living patterns of the cabin
large to fit through the cabin door (Figures 10 to 12). This exterior
residents. A "typical" winter floorplan Is shown In Figure 8.
roan was In most cases fully floored and on the same level as the
Inner roan (there are examples where both had dirt floors). Addi-
tional space for the outer room could be made by adding onto It a
tent extension. The space Inside the gable extension saw different

-~=--.-----
Fig. 8. Rocky Mountain Cabin, Winter Floorplan

36
. I
I
uses. In some ceses thl s area was left open at the front and used
for exterior storage. If a large faml1y occupied the dwelling, the

37
 Fig . 10 . Simond ' s cabin , Pay e tte National Forest , Idaho. Note bed
Fig. 12. 1880s miner ' s cabin, Boise National Forest , Idaho. Note
on porch and gable extension opening to the outside; typical of miner's
accessability provided by gable extension during heavy snowfall (from
cabin during swnmer occupation (from Hartung , 1978).
Jerry Wylie) •

Fig. 13. 1925 photo of winter campsite of A. B. curtis; cabin

Fig_ 11. Simond's cabin, Payette National Forest, Idaho. note
e n tirely buried by snow (from university of Idaho Historical Collection).
outdoor atove in foreground (from John Hartung).

38 39
extension l«Juld often open frOlll the Interior direction, offering
o 10 15
storage for interior belongings and sleeping space for children
(Figure 14). 30 -- - x -- 30

This cabin type also proved practical for seasonal occupation. The -x--x --
outer room continued to be the living area during the SUlll11er, with 25 - - - - - -- 25
_____ x __
the inner room providing storage space for tool s and equipment
x -
during the winter.
---- x - x - -
20 -- - - - - - x - x - - y. X - - - 20
'lIch variation exists within the type Itself (Fig re 13). While the
----xx--
majority are made of log, frame structures also exist (Figure 15). x - x -
Within log construction, the majority so far analyzed make use of x - x - -
x-xx - x-
square notching, a type present, but not cOOll1On east of the Rockies. - - - -- 15
15 -- - - - -

- ---x ---- -
x- x -- x--
Examples can be found of Rocky Ibuntain Cabins made with saddle,
half dovetail, full dovetail, 'V' notch, and box comer construction 10 -- - - - - 10

techniques (Table 1).

o _____ _______ ____ _____ ____ _____ ___________ _____________ 0

Extensi on length (ft.)

Fig . 14. Sc attergram of the cabin lengths and gabl e

extension length s in northe rn Rocky
40 Mountain cabin s .
41
 Notching Types Present In Rocky Mounta i n Cabins

Type No. Percent

Square 29 48.3%

Saddle ~4 23. 9%

Doveta i1 11.6%
Fig. 15 . Wy1e's ranch , Payette National Fores t, Idaho. Note l~
story height of cabin and stove under extension (from John Hartung).
IIV II 8. 3%

Box Corner 6.6%

Other 1. 3%

TOTAL 60 100 .0%

Variations In roof styles Include simple ga ble, gambrel (Figure 16),

shed (Figure 17), and hip. The length of the gable extension Is

quite variable, but appears to average 50 percent the length of the

cabin. The most unusual variation involves cabins with gable

extens i ons on both ends of the cabin - at least two examples of this

exist in different parts of Idaho (Figures 18 and 19).

One area still not discussed about the RlIC is defining its difference
Fig. 16 . Twentie t n century frame homestead from Oregon (Hatton,
1977) • fran the Anglo-Western cabin; how long must the gable e xtension be

43
42
 J[ J[ ,1:
:r;:

Fig . 17. TWentie th century miner's cabin , Payette National Forest,

Idaho. Note gambrel roof, exterior table, and dog sled leaning against
front wall of cabin (from Hartung , 1978) .

,
Ii

Pig. 18. Miner'. cabin , Payette National Forest , Idaho. Thia unique Fig. 19. SOuth and East elevations of Norton cabin, De Smet, Idaho.
cabin features a ahed root (trom J ohn Hartung). Scale: one-eighth in. equals one ft.

44 45
for a cabin to qual ffy as one and not the other? While cabins with
intennediate or transitional length gables occur in Idaho and else-
where, I consider the defining attribute to be how the covered area
was used - was it only a porch to cover firewood and tools, or was
the area used by people as a 11ving and working space? This is best
detennined when dealing with period photos, where the kinds of
material goods appearing under the gable made this detennination
possible (Figures 20 and 21). When one has no examples other than
abandoned and often deteriorating structure s whi ch offer no material
clues, archeological excavation i s probably the only method of
detennination. Fig. 20. Ninetee nth century homes te ad, location unknown (from the
Washington State Unive r s ity Photo Co llec tion).

Fig. 21. Homestead a l o ng the Middle Fork of the Sa lmo n River , Idaho .
Photo from c a. 1902 (from Ca r rey and Con ley, 1 977).
46

47
VI. PAST DOCUMENTATION

References to Western cabin types are few; providing a date for the
1nception of this cabin type through historical sources has proved
difficult. D. C. Beard, in his 1914 book Shelters, Shacks, and
Shanties shows plans for the construction of a "Wyaning Olebo",
described as having "a roofed-over open- air roan, or, if you'choose
to call it, a front porch, veranda, stoop, piazza, or galley,
according to the section of the country in ~ich you live ••• "
(Beard 1914: 171) (Figure 22a). Bear¢ s example shows the gable
extending 56 percent beyond the cabin. Another variation is
presented by Beard, called the "Hoko River Olebo." This cabin,
des igned for less severe cl imatic areas, has a smaller extens ion
with roof supports that could be removed during nonsnow months
(Beard 1914: 173-173) (Figure 22b). A Forest Service Handbook fran
1935 written by C. P. Fikes includes a similar floor plan and
construction infonnation, al so a 56 percent gable extension (Fikes
1935: Plan C-I7). A more elaborate book on log building fran 1945
and co-authored by Fikes, has several examples of and variations on
this plan 1n western Forest Service construction (Fikes and Groben
1945:21, 32, 38).

Another historical source is early photography. Ni neteenth century

photos exist 1n which RMCs make the background for portraits of
early frontier families. From the early twentieth century (1909),
the Forest Service has been building cabins in the region, and
nt.nerous photos of these early sites survive. The primary sources

48
Fig. 22. A Wyoming Olebo cabin (after Beard, 1914).
 of data for this report, however, are studies of physical remains.

The dating of extant structures without an oral infonnant or datable

photo is difficult. Many sites have been claimed and reclaimed Average Cabin Sizes by Usage, North Idaho Rocky Mountain Cabins.
several times between 1860 and 1980, with structures being built,

al tered, and destroyed, leaving one unable to use claim records as

reliable dating mechanisms. Cabins have been known to appear In Percent Extension
areas where official claims were never filed. The use of dendro- Width Length of Length
Use
chronology (tree-ring dating) to provide cons tru ction dates for log
Homesteads 15.6 19.6 50%
cabins has seen little application, but in appropriate areas may Mining 14.25 19.1 43%
prove to be the most accurate dating method. Until a better system
Logging 14.5 17.9 32%
is developed, one cannot reI iably locate a "source area" for the 14
Forest Service 12.7 54%
RMC. Even now as structures continue to disappear unrecorded, it
may be too late to find such a location.

No correlation appears to exist between a specific subsistence

method and this cabin type. Surviving examples were constructed by

Cabin Usage Within the 8ig Creek Drainage, Idaho
mi ners, homes teaders, ranchers, and loggers, as well as by the

Forest Service. lIlile it cannot be considered a detenninlng factor

by Itself, differences in average cabi n sizes appear when the s truc- Percent
Use Number
tures are grouped according to their use (table 2). The following
Mi ning 8 32%
data, part of a study of historic structures in the 8ig Creek
Homesteads 9 36%
drainage of central Idaho, show a comparison of structures based on
Forest Service 24%
their architectural type and probable use. This study, done by John
Loggi ng 8%
Ha rtung In 1978, represents one of the very few extant reports that
provides a detailed cataloging of structures anywhere in the western 100%
TOTAL 25
United States (Tables 3 and 4).

50

51
cabfn Types Present, Bfg Creek Drafnage, Idaho
60 - - 60
56

Cabfn Mfnes Homesteads Overall 50 - - 50

T~~ No. Percent No. Percent No. Percent

Rocky Mountafn 9 38% 41% IB 38S
40 - - 40
Anglo-Western 8 33S 32S 15 32%
Eastern 7 ~ ..L ~ ..ll 2Q!.
30 - - 30
28
TOTALS 24 100% 22 100% 46 100%

20 - - 20

Based on present infonnatfon, the RMC seems to have ffrst appeared 13

fn the Rocky Mountafn Regfon at least 20 years after actual settle- 10 - - 10

ment had begun. The earl fest datable cabfn fs fr om the 1880's. The
domfnant constructfon period for RMCs came between 1900 and 1930,
0 0
with cabins still befng constructed thfs way into the 1950s 1880 to 1900 1900 to 1930 1930 to 1950

(Ffgure 23). Fiq. 23 . Temporal distribution of a sample

of datable Rocky Mountain cabins .

The majority of cabins fllustrate<! in this report are located fn

Idaho. While this fs prfmarfly due to my proxfmity to the area and
its data, Idaho appears to have the hfghest percentage of RMC's from
any area withfn the Rocky Mountafn Regfon. A prel fmfnary survey of
RMC l oca t fons has been made : data compiled from 27 Natfonal Forests
f n 7 western states. Among these Forests, 26 report the RI~C extant.

52 53
A di stinction is made in thi s f igure between Forests reporting the
RMC present as Forest Service s truc t ures only, and those possessing
RMCs constructed for nongovernment purposes (Figure 24).

54
 110. lu,ce roc •• t

Cahlorn1_
lU . . . tII

e ,
1

4
Colorado

_tt
Cw\nl00n
alo Crande

S Whit. ~h'.r

13 IdAhO
, Bul . .
Cl •• ~.t.r
8 Panhandle

@] ~ 9
10
II
'ayette
S.l.on
Tuqh ••

® "'>nt&na
" .ver", •• d

~
1]
Il Cuater
14 lAwh and <: 1.,'k

3
Or~Qf'I

~
is rre.-,nt
16 ~lh.ur
11 Ochoco
tJ"1 18 Joqvo IUver
tJ"1 19 u..t1l1a
20 u.pq...
I I Win. . .
4
V• • hln9ton
22 Colville
1) Mt . ft.&kar
24 lit . Hood
2S ".11ow. · WhltaAn

IIyOalnq
26 IIrldqt:r*Teton
21 Jtedi dn. Dow

o 300 ... 1
~~---r~~--~,~'~--~'
o JOO 111'1'1
"0" indicates RMCs occurring as both Forest Service and private structures;

"0" indi.cat€s RMCs occurring as Forest Structures only;

"6," indicates RMCs are not present in either form.

Fig. 24. Map and list of a sample of National Forests in the western United States, showing the
distribution of Rocky Mountain Cabins.
VI I. VERNACULAR THEORY By far the most comprehensive look at vernacular or folk traditions

in the United States comes from Henry Glassie. In his analysis of

Ante:edents of the RMC could be "picked from pre-existing types with
a little imagina tion. From the viewpoint of an anthropologist,
however, the placement of this cabin type i nto theo r ies of innova-
tion - the understanding of the process of change - is a more useful
approach.
Most cabin-building in the United States , at least un til the last 20
years, falls under the rubrick of "vernacular architecture," a term
which should be defined before given further use. Eric Mercer,
writing about English vernacular architecture, provides three requ ire-
ments: (I) houses of traditional form, built in traditional ways,
built of traditional ma terials; (2) they are corrmon within, and
peculiar to, one or more limited parts of the country; and (3) they
are small and mean in comparison to some of their neig hbors (Mercer
1975:1) .
the East, three 'cultures' are recognized - the aC<ldemic (elite,
progressive), the popular (mass, normative), and the vernacular.
Fol k material generally displays major variation oyer space, minor
variation over time. Because of this, culture areas can be defined.
Building types are traditional (defined as being old and acceptable
to the individual that produced it). The most important and un-
changing vernacular component is form in systems that favor replica-
tion over innovation (Glassie 1968:4-8). In ~ later book concerned
with folk areas in middle Virginia, Glassie further crafts these
architectural traditions into a set of rigid rules for the planning
and massing of structures. Wi thin any fol k area, the "acceptable'
types of architecture were surprisingly small - with success found
in repetition, not originality (Glassie 1975:68,88,163).
A. APPLICATION

Sibyl Maholy-Nagy, writing specifically about North American Based on definitions provided by Mercer and Maholy-Nagy, I have
architecture, gives four aspects that are empha s ized in vernacular listed four elements that I believe can be used by the disciplines
buildi ng : (I) unsupplemented use of native materials and local of both anthropology and archi tecture to define exampl es of vernac-
construction materials; (2) planning and massing as the result of ular construction:
specific unduplicabl e functional requirements and site conditions,

regudless of symmetry or generally accepted taste canons; (3) 1. Individual variation within prescribed traditions.
absence of ornamentati on that is not a part of the structure ; and 2. Limited geographic range.
(4) identity of enclosing or enclosed space (Maholy-Nagy 3. Made by local builders using native materials.
1957: 72-73).
4. Absence of overt ornamentation.

56 57
found in the East, but not in the 19th century Rockies. This has Rocky Mountain cabin construction meets these requirements. !Juring

been noted elsewhere in the West by Charles Gritzner, writing about this study, it was exceptional to find two cabins having exactly the

New Mexico architecture: "Fol k housing traditions generally invol ve same dimensions (Figure 25). Even with this diversity, the RMC's

a high de9ree of consistency in both form and dimension • • • (but) log have much in common: all are square or rectangular in plan; most

buildings represent a myriad of heterogenous forms and construction are buil t of horizontal logs hel d together by one of four notching

methods . .. The creativity of individuals is readily apparent not types. Range appears to be 1 imited by the Rocky MOuntains to the

only from village to village but within villages and even on single east and south, following the mountains north into Alaska and west

farmsteads ... " (Gritzner 1971:56). This "experimentation" is into California. The primary construction material is provided by

apparent in Rocky Mountain vernacular construction. forests of pine, fir, and cedar. The cabin's owner was usually t he

builder. Finally, the plainness of these dwellings is obvious--no

If both "systems" represent vernacular construction, can their extra ornamentation is evident in any examples so far--none are

diversity be explained? The group studied by Glassie can be painted (except a few with preservative materials). The only

considered as having fairly closed cultural system . The area had nonfunctional item commonly found on PMCs is a set of deer or elk

been settled with a stable population for 200 years, the majority of antlers on the gable's end.

the inhabitants being of English or African ancestry. Most were

invol ved in agriculture as 1TMJ1 ti-generational family enterprises When information on Rocky Mountain cabin construction is compared

(Glas s ie 1975:5-7). In this kind of environment, there was time for with Glassie's findings concerning vernacular culture area s , several

tradit i ons t o grow and be perpetuated . problems become apparent. Glassie's definition of tradition doe s

not apply because settlement of the area is not old, nor is it s

In t he Rocky Moun t ain region, cultural sys tems were far more open in architecture credited to any specific group from el sewhere . While

na ture . Settl ement had been going on for about 50 years, much less form appears to rema in fai rly unchangi ng among Ea s tern vernacul ar

time in many loca l iti es. Or i g i nal settl ers moved on to be replaced groups , major changes are observable in the vernacular str uctures of

by new, a pattern whi c h made continuation of traditions difficult. the Roc kies within the 30-year per i od 1865-1890. The continui "y of

Cul tural backgounds repre sented all geogra ph ic areas of the United form can al so be challenged in Plains construction, where t he use of

Sta tes, and parts of f1Jrope, As i a, and Africa. 1/ logs as a constru ction material continued even when it is necessary
The common
element for t hese i nd i vidual s was their need to survive the harsh, to change form s to do so (Wel sc h 1980 :319). A third pro bl em

often unfamili a r climate. Th i s need for survival, along with no i nvolves the favoring of repli cat ion over i nnovation, a cha r ac ti stic

58 59
 o 10 15 20 establi shed cuI tural group to pressure the continuation of estab-
I I I I
30 30 lished forms, were two fac t ors favoring experimentation and inno-

vation within the vernacular architecture of the area. After

several decades of experimentation, the RMC can be viewed as a step

X - - toward consistency on architectural form. To understand how this

25 25 came about, it wll1 be useful to explore the processes involved in

-X - innovation.

X----X The best source I have found for the study of change is Iilmer
20 X - 2- 20
Barnett's "Innovation" (1952), and the following cOl1lllents represent
X X
.; X - a brief summary of hi s ideas. Two sources provide the raw material s
- X
~
for innovation--the physical world, and the inventor's cultural
...
.J:;

.
- X 2 X
'"c inventory. The mechanism of inventing is viewed as the alteration
" 15 - X 15
c and recombination of "configurations , " from pre-existing prototypes
~u - X - into new ideas tha t are qua li ta tivel y different from thi ngs tha t

were previously known. The potential for the formation of new ideas

10 10 is governed by two sets of factors--external conditions, and the

internal wants of the individual. Once a new idea has found

expression, it must be adopted by others if it is to be perpetuated.

This is dependent upon the position and prestige of the original

advocate, the acceptabll ity and des i rabil ity of the idea in terms of
established norms, and finally, the personality and position of

potential acceptors.

o o
Sources for the development of the RMC would be, physically, the
Cubin width (ft.)
cl imatic conditions--cold, snowy winters and warm, humid stmners--
Pig . 25. Scatterqram of northern Idaho Roc kv Mountain i
e xcl udinq gable e xte nsions. cab n s iz es ,
and also a plentiful supply of wood for bullding purposes.

61
60
Culturally, the presence of people from diverse architectural VIII. ORIGIN OF THE ROCKY (o()UNTAIN CABIN

traditions who shared a familiarity with log construction. This

broad base of construction experience, along with the presence of no Without knowledge of a specific source area or datable cabins that

dominant tradition, and the need to find practical forms of shelter, demonstrate changes over time, determining a single prototype for

qual ify as external conditions favoring Innovation. For the tile RMC Is not possible, however, with the knowledge of groups

categories of i Ilvldual wants and advocate qualities, not enough settling the area and their previous bufldlng traditions, four

Information Is available on the Rl1C to make any useful comments. As posslbfl Itles can be suggested. Each of these represents one of

for acceptability, the RMC does not violate any general features of Barnett's suggested changes through which new Ideas are formed:

P<nerican cabin construction, but Is a recombination of them. This

would allow its identification and probable acceptance by Rocky I. The elaboration of construction forms brought to the

Mountain settlers. Rocky fobuntalns by Immigrants from northwest Europe. The

Rocky Mountain region saw first generation settlement from

Germany, Sweden, and Finland Y --areas where front-gabled

structures with modest overhangs were constructed . The

abflity of this cabin type to withstand the severe climatic

conditions was observed by other settlers who copied Its

form, exaggerating the overhang for additional protection.

2. The ass lmflat ion of eastern United States outbuilding types.

The majority of settlers entering the Rocky fobuntlan region

were native-born P<nericans. As already mentioned, the

extended front-gabled outbuilding Is quite common throughout

the mid-Atlantic and Southea stern United States. A settler

who constructed a traditional outbuflding might have noticed

advantages In Its overhang and used it In the construction

of hi s next dwe 11i ng--an idea then copi ed and el abora ted on

by others (figures 26 and 27).

62
63
3. Simplification of the Southern Dogtrot. The Dogtrot has the

distinction of being the only other ftnerlcan cabin type that

Incorporates an open living space as a part of Its design.

The Dogtrot first made Its appearance In 18th-century

Virginia and Tennessee, spreading to the Central Gulf Plain

where 1t became a COOl1lOl1 bulldlng form from Georgia Into

east Texas, and finding its way as far north as Indiana,

Illinois, and Iowa. The earliest Dogtrots were made by the

joining of two cllmlon single-pen cabins under one roof.

"Second generation" Dogtrots, however, saw their doors moved

to the facing gable walls, with windows moved to the front

wall (Jordan 1978: 119-123). This later style of Dogtrot Geo rgia co r ncrib, ca. 1840 (from Bealer and Ellis, 1978 ) .
Fig . 26 .
waul d meet all the requ 1rements of the RMC 1f only one of

the pens was deleted, leaving a single pen and connected

covered area.

Several Dogtrots are known to have exl sted In central Idaho

( Fi gures 28 and 29). The presence of Southerners In early

Rocky /tluntaln settlement Is apparent from the names given

features I n the area (Atlanta, Chattanooga, Leesvll1e).

limitati ons placed upon these people by geography and time,

along wit h t he need for reduced space, might have resul ted

In a slmpl 1fl catlon of this more complex form. Additional

suppor t for a Dogtrot origin comes from Alaska--cablns have

been observed where an original RMC had been altered by the

addition of a second pen, making the dwelling Into a Dogtrot.

From this vi ewpoint, cabi ns with small or tranSitional gable Fig. 27. Outbuilding, Hand mine compl ex , Payette National Forest,
Idaho (from John Hartung).
extensions migh t be viewed as further Dogtrot slmpl1flcatlons. 65
64
 4. A purely local innovation. The Anglo-Western cabin type had

been established before Rocky Mountain settlement began. and

appears throughout the region. usually with minimal gable

extent ions in both ends. In order to store more wood and

supplies outside the front of the cabin. the front gable was

extended. Gradually. as longer extensions were constructed.

use of the space beneath the gable increased. Numerous

examples of what might be termed "transitional oo extensions

can be found on cab ins throughout the Rocky Mountain region

(Figures 30 and 31) . Limits on the length of the extension

would be governed by the maximum length of available logs.

or possibly. by li miting the covered area to a size large

examp~!9 ~f 28. f ' Ma~anmine build ing, Payette Na t i o nal Forest, Idaho' an
a ~rs generation t ype of Dog tro t (from J o hn Hartung).'
enough to fulfill the needs of the builder. No standard-

Ization of extension lengths appears to have existed other

than those prescribed by the Forest Se rv i ce.

While it cannot really be considered as the source. the

Forest Service de serves me ntion because of its major role as

a diffu ser of thi s ca bin type. The RMC became popular as a

Forest Service plan for guard stations and lookouts through-

out the Western United States (Figures 32 and 33 ). Construc-

t ion of these structures ca n be documented from IglO and

i nto the 1930' s . While much work still needs to be done In

the way of local studie s before this relationship Is fully

understood, it appears to be a unique example of a vernacular

building fo rm being spread by an age nt of the popular culture.

Fig_ 29. Miner ' s cabin o n t h Gold F k R1
Boise, Natio nal Forest an e xample e f o r d ve r , Cascade Range r Di s tri c t,
, 0 a secon ge ne r a t ion type of Dogtrot. yet the form remaining vernacular In nature.
66
67
 Fig. )0. Cabin with minimal extension near Libby , Montana.
Although o n ly a small area js covered, note she l ve s built under the
window to make us e of this space (from Guy Marden) .
Fig . 32. Liz Creek cabin, Clearwater Na tional Forest, Idaho (from
Gerald Franc).

Pig. )1. Hopkin ' s cabin , Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho. Fig_ 33. Indian Creek Guard Station, Challis National Forest, Idaho
Photo taJten CA. 1910, note large size of 109s used in cabin ' s construc tion
(from Jerry Wylie).
and ama~l stool under gable extension (from Carrey and Conley , 1977).

68 69
IX. SUMMARY the local climatic conditions. Fran these trials, a new type, the

Rocky Mountain cabin, came into being and began to be duplicated

[ have attempted i n this report t o document the existance 0 throughout the region.

previously unknown cabin type, and to find for this type a place in

the overall development of ""erican log technology. While resea rc h Although built with canmon attributes over a fairly limited geograph-

in the eastern United States has yielded several excellent studies ic area, the RMC never experienced a stand~rdization of fonn. No

about log cons truct ion and vernacular tradit i on s in arc hi tecture , "cul ture areas" can be defined in the Rockies due to the diversity

the western United States ha s received l ittle of this at tent ion. and temporary nature of settlement patterns. The tennination point

Perhaps this lack of attention is atti buta b1e to the fact t hat fr the construction of vernacular fonns is also not as well-defined

Western s tructure s are not as old as t heir Eastern cou nterpart s, a in the Rocky Mountain region as in the East. The period between

condition that ca n prove to be an adva ntage in that more example s World ~ar [ and World war II saw a transition fonn vernacular to

remain, thus making mo re accurate studies possible . At th is time. popular construction in Middle Virginia (G1assie 1975 : 57). This

the Rocky Mounta i n cabi n is the la st documented cabi n type to appear tenn inati on date probably holds true for most of the East. [n the

in North America (early examples date from about [890. with the Rockies. however. popular fonns appear almost from the beginn i ng of

height of construction coming in the [920's). As the constructio n settl ement in the cities. and vernacular fonns st i ll continue to be

of vernacular s tructures conti nue s to decline. it may we ll be the constructed in rural areas. although t he i r numbers have dec reased .

las t definable type on this continent.

The last decade ha s see n a renaissance i n log construction t hrough

This 1 im ited s tudy has s hown that the concept used for the East of the country. the Rocky Mo untai n region in particular . Sane of these

defi n i ng culture area s to explain ver nacular diversity (a nd simi- are cabins trad i tio nal in notching and plan. others of modern design

larity ) is not val id for the architecture of the Rocky Mountain with canp l ex notchi ng and contemporary plan (Figures 34 and 35).

West. The same proc es ses appear to have been at work i n both areas , These structures . with few possi bl e exceptions. represent the

but at different s tage s of development. Rocky Mountain construction popular c ulture's rendition of vernacular styl es and are not them-

began br i ngi ng in types that originated el sewhere (Eastern cabin selves folk in nature. This upsurge i n log building has brought

types. the AnglO- We s tern. European types). and by builders experi- renewed interest in the cabins of America's pa st and will hopefu lly

menting with va riat ions and rec anbinations that might better suit aid in the continued examination of log construction in the United

States . Much work remains to be done before the roles of the Ang1 0-
70
71
 Western and Rocky Mountain cabin in the settlement of the Rocky

Mountain region can be fully understood . As these cabins continue

to fall, unrecorded, this task becomes more urgent.

It should also be the goal of those studying wester n cabins to apply

their findings to theories about vernacular construction. This

approach will involve an interdisciplinary effort including archi-

tecture, history, geography, and anthropology. Mchaeology will
become an increasingly important tool as standing structures

Fig. 34. Brink Realty Offi ce , Stanley , Idaho (from Jer ry Wyli e ). disappear. have attempted to incorporate into this report

procedures used in these different disc ipl ines . I am hopeful the

result of thi s study has been not only an identification of types,

but al so an attempt to understand man's dual natures of constancy

and innovation.

Fig. 35 . Bump's c abin , Pay e tte National Forest , Idaho. Gabl e

extension has been wall ed to make a second full room (from Carrey and
Conley , 1977).

73
72
 REFERENCES ClTEO

Barnett, Homer
1. The only Eastern vemacular structure that typ1cally possesses a 1953 Innovation . New York: MacGraw Hill.
foreward-fac i ng gable is the Shotgun house of Lou isa nia, Bealer, Alex, and John 0 Ellis
1978 The Log Cabin. Barre, MA : Barre Publishing
described by Fred Kniffen to be a long, narrow hou se one room
Beard , O. C.
width and from one to three rooms deep . A front porch fonned by 19 14 Shelter, Shacks , and Shanties. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons .
either a gable extension or by a shed addition i s very common
Browne , J . Ros s
(Kni ffen 1936: 186). 1861 "A Peep at lIashoe . " New Harper's fotlnthly Magazine
22: 155-156.

Carrey , Jo hn, and Co rt Conley

2. CJle of the best sources about the di stribution of 109 construc- 19 77 A Gu ide to the liiddle Fork of the Sa l mo n and the Sheepeater
War. RIggins, 10: Backeddy Books.
tion methods is provided by Kniffen and Glassie (19 66:61). They
Cl ampi tt, Joh n W.
r eport square notchi ng to be a corner timbering fonn developed 1889 Ec hoe s fr om the Rocky Mountains . Chi cago: Belford,
Cla r k, and Compa ny .
by English inmigran ts to America , used in stead of the Gennan "V"
De Vi sser , Joh n, and Harold Kalman
notch . Square notching is the commonis t fonn of corner timber- 1976 Pi oneer Churches. New York: W. W. Norton and Compa ny.
ing east of the Blue Ridge, particularly in the Virgi nia Fa rnham, Thoma s T.
1843 "Travel s in the Great Western Prairies , t he Anahua c and
Piedmont (Kniffen and Glas5ie 1966:63). the Roc ky Mountains, and the Or egon Terr itory ." In ~
Western Travels , 1748-1 846 , volume 28 , edited by Ruben
Gold Thwalte s. Cl evela nd : Arthur H. Cl a r k.
3. The presence of inmigrants from Germa ny and Sweden, along with Fickes, C. P. , edito r
1935 "Con s true t ion and ffa i ntenance of Fores t Improvemen t s ."
natives of the so utheastern United States living in the Rocky Region 1 Handbook, USDA Forest Service.
Mountain region can be documented. The earliest comp lete census 1945 "Building with Logs." USDA Forest Serv i ce Mi sce l laneou s
Publication No. 579.
for the State of Idaho from the year 1900 reports an overall
Gla ss i e , Henry
population of 57,666. Four-thousand , nine-hundred and fifteen 1963 "The Appalachian Log Cab in." Mountain Ufe and Work
39( 4): 5- 14.
or 8.5 percen t of these were originally from Gennany or Sweden ,
1968 "The Types of the Southern Mountain Cabin." Appendix
and 7,542 (13 percent) reported thems elves to be natives of the of The Study of American Folklore, by Jan Bruvand . New
Southeas tern Un ited Sta tes.
York : W. w:NOrton .
1968 Pattern of the Material Folk Culture of the Eastern
United States. Philadelphia: UnIVersity of Pennsylv ania
Pres s .

75
74
 1975 Folk Housing In Middle Virginia. Knoxville: University of Maholy-Nagy, Sibyl
Tennes see Pres s • 1957 Native Geni us In Anonm;ous Architecture In North ,,"erlca.
New York: Schokl n Boo s .
Glmbutas, Hargla
1956 The Prehl s tory of Ea stern Eu rope . Cambr idge: The Peadbody Mercer, Eric
MUseum. 1975 F.ngl ish Vernacular Architecture. London: Royal Commission
on Hlstnrlca l Documents.
1963 The Sa lts. London: Thames and Hudson.
Merk, Freder ick
Grl tzner, Cha rl es F. 197B II : s tory of the Westward Hovement. New York: Alfred A.
1971 "Log Housing in New Mexico." Pioneer Pmerica . 3(2):60-63 Knopf .

Hartung, John Murphy, Robe rt F., and Yoland Murphy

1960 "Shoshone Bannock Subsistence and Socie ty." Anthropological
1978 · OocllT1en tation of the Hi storical Resources In the Idaho
Primitive Area, Big Creek Drainage . " Unpublished Master's Records 16(7): 293-33B .
thesis, lillversity of Idaho, Moscow.
Richards, J. H.
Hatton, Raymond R. 1978 BOO Years of Finnish Architec ture. London: David and
1977 The High Desert of Central Oregon. Portland : Binford eha rl es.
and Hort. Rid ge , "art in , and Ray A. Billington, editors
1969 Pmerica's Frontier Story. New York: Ho lt Rinehart and
Hawgood, John A.
1967 ,,"erica 's Western Frontiers. New Yo rk : Alfred A. Knopf. Wi ns ton.

Hult, Ruby E.
1952 Steamboats in the Timber. Caldwell, ID: The Caxton
Prlnters.
Hunt, Charles B.
1967 PhysiOreography of the United States . San Francisco:
W. H. reeman and Company. Shurtleff, Harold R.
1939 The Log Cabi n 1'1yth: A Stu~ of Early Dwell ings of the
Irving, Washington i!!!llish Colonies in Northerica . Cambridge: Harvard
1837 The Adventures of Captain Bonneville. Bos ton: Thwayne Universlty Press .
l'ii1iiTs her s .
Townsend, John K.
Johansen, Dorothy O. 1906 Narrative of a journey across the Rocky l'cJuntains to
the Columbia River, and a vi sit to the Sandwich Islands ,
1967 Empl re of the Co IllT1bfa . New Yo rk: Ha rper and Row. and Chile ; with a scientific appendix. In Early Western
Jo rdan, Terry Travels 174B-1846, volume 21, edited by Ruben GOld lhwaftes.
1978 Texas LOt Buildings: A Folk Architecture. Austin: Clevel and: Arthur H. Clark.
Unlversl y of Texas Press. Kniffen, Fred.
Ubbelonde, Carl, Ma xi ne Benson, and Owane Smith
1935 "Loulsanla House Types." Annals of the Association of 1972 A Co lorado History. Boulder: Pruett Publishing Compa ny.
,,"erican Geographers 26(4): 179-193.
Wel sch , Roger L.
1965 "Folk Housing: Key to Diffusion." Annals of the Association 1980 Nebraska Log Construction: I~omentum in Tradition.
of Pmerlcan Geographers 55( 4) : 549-576. Nebraska History, Fall :310-355.

Kniffen, Fred, and Menry Glassle We slager , C. A.

1966 "Building With Wood In the Eastern United States : A 1971 The Log Cabin in ,,"erica. Rutgers University Press.
Time-Place Perspective." Geographical Review 56(1) '
40-66. . 77

76
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

~
1. INTRODUCTION • 80

2. CORNER JOINTS BO

True Notchi ng. Types COIIII1On 3 B2

True Notching. Types Less COIIII1On 8 84

Other Log Construction t1ethods 10 89

LOG CABIN TECHNOLOGY AND TYPOLOGY
By
3. FLOOR PLANS . ....... 12 91
flary Hil son 18 97
4. ROOF AND WINDOW CONSTRUCTION

REFERENCES CITED ....... 21 100

USDA Fores t Service

In t ermou ntain Region
1984

.:p
 B C

"'" /
1. INTRODUCTION

log construction first begin in the Near Elst, sprelding ICroSS Europe as '\.
a part of the Neolithic culture cCJllplex (Kniffen Ind Glassie 1966). This
construction _thod IIIIIS first introduced in North _rica by Swedish
emigrants about 1638. It 1liiiS, hoMever, not until 1671 thlt Gennan emi-
grants began to popularize log construction in the New ';'ork (Shurtleff
1939:176-178). This group, popularly known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, G

along with large nllllbers of Scotch-Irish settlers, helped to make logs

the dOllinant construction fonn for IIIOst of the eastern United States
south of New England by the end of the 16th century (Kniffen 1965: 561).

The following paper presents I brief sul1lllary of basic definitions for the
conponents of log construction, In explanation of the way these components
can be assembled, and floor plans most c(Jll1l()n to log structures bul1 t in
the United States. The aim is present an easy-to-follow reference source H J
for those interested in log technology, with particular emphasis given

examples frOlll the western United States.

2. r.ORNEP JOINTS

The following diagrlllls (Figure 1) shows the basic tenninology given to

l ogs used in construction. The first part (Figure 1a to g) deals with
the parts of a notched log. The second part (Figure Ih to m) deals with
K L
•
the exterior fonn of the log, MIlich 1liiY be altered either prior to or
after the construction of the log structure. logs left in the round Inay Fig. 1. lOQ Tenninology : a , crown; b, head; c, neck; d, dorsal notch;
e. ventral · notch ; f, dors~l s i de; 9, ventral side ; h, round; i, round hewn;
also s'- vlriation by either being peeled for having bark left on the j, square hewn ; k, half log; I, hewn half log ; m, planked (from Jordan 1978) .
exterior surf.ce of the logs In the finished structure. Figure 2 provides
structural tellllinology used when discussing the parts of I log structure.

True Notching Types, ClIIIIIOn

Siddle Notch : The simplest notching methods, 1t Is Ilmost alWitys used on

round logs .tIlch, for maximum tightness at the comer joints, should
extend beyond the plane of the Witll. The saddle Is probably the most
ancient fol'lll of comer notching. Wh11e replaced In popular usage by more
cClllplex notches during ... ch of the 18th and 19th centuries, the saddle
aglln bec~ the most clJllllOnly used notch for much of the United States
during the 20th century (Figure 3a).

Three general variations exl st ; notches can occur on the upper, the
lower, or on both sides of a log. Lower notching only 15 the most
effective for shedding Witter and Is the most cOlll1On variety. Other nanes
for th15 notch Include groove-jo i nt with round notch (Erhon 1937), and

coping and cutting (AI dr1tch 1934).

Squire Notch : Th15 method 15 simple to execute, but does not Interlock
the logs as do most other types. Th15 probl. 15 often ranedled by the
add1tlon of pegs or metal spikes. Wh11e square notching seems to have
or igi nated In Engl15h areas of Virginia during the 18th century, It 15
c_nly found today In 19th and 20th century structures frCIII the
wes tern liI1ted States. It can be found on h_ logs or rounded logs Flg. 2. Struc tura l te rm i nology: a , eave be_i b. plate 101 ; 0, raft.r;
d, purlin; e, r i dgepole ; f . j o is t; g . ail l log; and h, tie be •• (Hutal.r, 1974).
squired only on the ends (Figure 3b). Other _ s for the squire notch
F1g. 3.

a, saddl e ; h, s quare ,' a d "v"

n C , nOtch.
 include lapped joint (Mackie 1972 ). corner joint (Eri xon 1937), and full
lap (Hutslar 1972).

Full Dovetail Notch: This is one of the most complicated corner t imber-

ing methods requiring considerable skill to execute. Logs are l ocked in

both directions producing a bo x- like corner; the logs are usually hewn,

or at least squared at the ends . The doveta i1 wa s most popular in the

eastern United States in the late 18th century (Figure 4a ) . It is also

called chamber and notched (Sloane 1964) .

Half Dovetail rlotch: While probab ly a simplification of t he full dove-

tail notch, this co rner timbering method wa s ea sier to execute and was

far more popular . This method wa s comMonly used throughout the southern

~nd central United States during the 19th century. Along with the saddle

notch , this type is described in 20th century Forest Service building

manuals, and can be found in Forest Se rvice s tructure s from the we s tern
United States (Fig ure 4b) .

"V" No tch: This notc h is executed by making V-notch cut into the bottom

of an upper log whi ch fits into the pointed c rown of a lower log . The

cross-section of a rounded log appears pear-shaped when a "V" joint is

used, a hewn log takes c., a gabled appearance. This notch is usually

found in 18th century struc tures in the eastern United States, and can be

found in late 19th century s tructures in the West (Figure 3c) . Other

name s for thi s notching type include steeple notch (Hutslar 197 2), saddle

(us ed by most Canadian authors) , saddle and ri der (Sultz 1964), saddle in Notches! a, Full dovetail; '>, HalE dovetail; c , half not c h.
Fig. 4 .
notch (Aldritch 1934), groove joint (Erhon 1937), dog collar (Karni and
Lev i n 1972). and sharp notch (Sloane 1964).

-tt-
95
 True Notching Types. Less COI1I1lon

Ha lf Notch : A variation of the square notch. the half notch is sometime s

exec uted by Itself. but more often occurs in conjunction with square

no tching to help reposition and straighten the rows of horizontal logs

(F igure 4c) ( Kniffen and Glassie 1966) . Also called tenant corner

(Sultz 1964 and 1969). corner joint (E r ixon 1937), half lap (Hut s lar

1972). and square notch (Sloane 1964).

Do ub le Lock. This fonn of notching is cOOll11On to S,.eden and other parts

of Sc and i navia and can be found in the upper Great Lakes region of North

ftroe r ica and occasionally in other isolated areas settled by Scandinavian

emigran t s . III i le not common for cabin construction. this is the notc hing

fonn used i n "Li nc oln Logs " (Figure Sa) (Kniffen and Glassie 1966) .

Also c alled li p joi nt ( Erixon 1937) . full double joint (Gritzner 19 69).
and egg e rat o (Ma c kie 19 72).

Single Lock: Thi s va r iatio n of the double lock notch has one large notc h

cut in t he bottom of the logs i ns tead of smaller notches cut on both the

to~ and bottom. Bo t h singl e and doub l e lock notches appear very similar

f r om out side exami nation ( Fi gur e 4b) (Kniffen and Glassie 1966). Al so

called common block ( Ka r ni and Lev i n 1972 ) . lipped joint (Erixon 1937).
and half do uble (Gr i tzn er 1969 ) .

Diamond Notch : A c ompli cated design. the diamond notch involves cutting
a "V· notch i n bo th the top a nd bottom of a log. It is quite rare (Fiyure
Fi g. 5. Less c otllCon no t ch e s: a , doub l e l ock; b, s in g le l oc k, and c ,
Sc) ( Kniffe n and Glassl e 1966. Weslager 1969). diamo nd not c h.

~
?(
 Other Log Construc tion Methods

False Notching: In this construction technique, logs are laid in even

tiers which do not effectively interlock with those immediately above or

below (Figures 6a and b). This method probably originated as an English

interpretat i on of true corner timber i ng introduced to fmerica by the

Gennans and Swedes. Recogni zed types include the butt joint (coononly

used in modern cab i n manufacture) (Figure 6c), the lapped or reba ted

joint ( Figure 6d), and the tongue and groove joint, an exaggerated fom
of a square notch (Kn iffen and Gl a ss i e 1966).

Mortise and Tenon : Also known as piece-sur- piece, this method can be

used with logs or plank s . Vertically notched horizontal .. irr.oers are

placed into the grooves of vert ic al timbers set a t regular i ntervals.

While this requi res more time and care than mos t construction methods , it

allows t he use of s horter timbers and puts no restriction s on the size of

the building. Most common in area s of French settlement, this method is

still used today in remote parts of Can ada (Figure 7a) (Attebery 1976 ,
ttotslar 1972, and Kniffen dnd Glassie 1966) .

Box Corner : This technique invol ves t he use of heavy planks to abut the
ends of horlzontal 109S at the corners , usually spiked or pegged into

place. Thls may be left uncovered givlng the corner an indented "V"
appearance (Figu re 7b), or be covered by two or more addl tlona1 boards to

form the more standard squared corner appearance (Figure 7c) (Attebery
Fig . 6 Corne r t ermi nology : a , tru e no t c hing ; b , false not ching; c ,
1976, Knlffen and Glassie 1966). Other varlations lnclude the use of a butt joint; and d t j apped or r ebat ed Jo in t .

't o
vertical log to fill this outside corner (Figure 7d ) or a single boa r d to
abut the horizontal ends (Figure 7e) .

Post on Sill: The contemporary fom of the ancient stockade construction

(poteau. en terre) usually appears as vertical posts attached to a horizon-

tal board . If spaces remain between logs. these are filled with chinking c
or waok strips (Figure 7f).

3. FLOOR PLANS

Log structures. while quite usable in specffi c dimens ions. can usually be

grouped in to a few basic f100~ plans. This infomation can be impo rtant

because floor plans generally s how less variation through time t han do

other architectural elemen ts. Local conditions may necessitate the use

of unfamiliar construction materials. but structure s still may be laid

out in a traditional way. Because of this. a structure's plan has been

successfully used in some areas as a guide to its builders ethnic

heritage. The majority of log structures constructed in the United

States are single or double pen in size . so these plans are given the
most emphasi s . e
d

In the following figures, a broken li ne indi cates the position of ridge-

pole . The positions of windows and doors are not included due t o their

variability; however. a door usually occurs in the structure's front wall

(the wall toward the botton of the page in the following drawings).
F Lg. 7. Other corner-timbering methods : a. mortise and tenon; b. hog
trough corner; c , covered box corner t d, co rner post; e, lapped box corner;
and f I pos t on boa rd .

r I
Single Pe n : The gr~at majori ty of single pen dwell ings (those

constructed as a single four-sided unit) belong to one of four types.

square single pen dwelling has four walls of equal or near equal dimen-

s ion s (usually 16 feet to 18 feet per side).

in a non gab1ed wall .

A si ngle door fa ces forward

Also common is a si ngl e c him ney centered along a

A

B. EE], IT1
m
gabled wall. While almost never reaching two full stories , a 10ft is

common, reached th r oug h a s teep corner sta irwell. This floor plan

EEl
appears to be Briti sh in (, ri g in, first appearing in l og structu r es east

of the Appalachians in tt,e 18 th century . Throu gh time , th i s plan has

: I : d
become popu lar in c abin construction throu ghout the United States a nd can : : :
I I I
be found in most geographic areas (F i gu r e 8a). Ia- __ I___..J

Also COOInon throughout the United States is the r ectangular si ngle pen,

in which the structu r e's width is grea ter than its depth. The dwelling

may be single large room or

unequal size by an interior partition.

is frequently divided into two roons of

Like the square pen, the rectan-

1------+------1,
gular cabin may be up to one and a half stories in height. The ori gin of

this plan is traced to Scotch-Iris h emigrants, occu rring most frequent l y

in the Upland South and Midwest (F i gure Bb ).

From the Great Plains and into the Far \/e st , the si ngl e pe n most commonly

appears as a front-gabled structure with a sing l e door in the front wall .

[------M-------I h
[j-----B
In the "Anglo-western" cabin , a manufactured iron stove usually replaces

the traditional chimney. This cabi n type appears as a common dwell ing

type in the United States in the mid-19th century (Figure 8c) . Fig. 8. Floor plans: a, rectangular single pen; b, squa r e s ingl e; c,
Anglo-Western cabin; d t Rocky Mountain cabin; e, central c~lmney house; f,
Spanish-American; g, simple double pen; h, saddlebag; and ~, dogtrot.
 Other types of single pen st ructure s can also be found, most reflecting

ethnic or geographic diversity. The large central - chimney hou se usually

reflects the builder 's German heritage (Figure 8e). A front-gabled

structure with a corner chimney i s common i n areas where the Spanish- 1------- ------
I'fnerican influence was s trong (Figure 8f) (Glassie 1968, Jordan 1978 , f-----ll-----ll-----l . b

Gritzner 1969, Kniffen 1936, Wei sc h 1980, and Muckel roy 1974).

Double Pen: As the name implie s , thi s group of s tructures is made up of

dwellings constructed of two four - sid ed units that, ,jhile not usually

j oined , s hare a common roof . In the ba s ic double pen, a side of the

first pen abuts a side of t he second pen along one of the i r ga~led walls.

This type is ofte n cal led the "Cumberland House" denoting the geographic
area of its gr eatest por ularity (F i gure 8g) .

Two othe r types of do uble pen structures are po pular in different parts

of the country. In cool e r cl imates , the central chimney or saddlebag

c El::::.J-.--/ d

structure can be found (Figure 8h). In more temperate or hu mid climates,

the Dogtrot cabin shows popularity (Figure 8il .

/'\Jltiple Pen s: Log structures of three or four pe ns do occur, but are

far less cOl1lllon than one and two pen varieties. Mo s t took form over time

as additions were made to simpl er s tructures. Names for the se types

E
reflect the overall form of the dwell ing and the amount of space left e
betwee n pens (Figure 9) . Anothe r very common way of add ing onto a log

building is the addit i on of a shed s tructu re usually of framed wood and

usually along a nongabled wall (Jordan 1978). Fig. 9. Mor e complex floor ~ l an8: a , lin ea r triple penj b , ellj C ,
saddle bag ell; d t dogtrot el l; e , 'T"; and t , dogt rot "T" (Jo rd an, 1978).

t7
1"
 4. ROOF AND WINDOW CONSTRUCTiON

~: The following diagran on roof typology (Figure 10) illustrates

the most ccmnon roof fonns found on cabins in the United States. The

vast majority of log structures built possess a simple gabled roof

(Figure 10) . Some variation exi sts, however, especially among Western

structures. Other roof forms that can occur, but are not shown here,

include circular, hexagonal (eight-sided), pyramidal (an equilateral

hip-roofed structure), and a flat roof (no slope) .

Roofing materials can be quite variable . Sometimes two or more mate rials

were combi ned to cover a structure. If a structure was used for a number

of years, it may have had difficult materials used at different times.

Often , an old roof was left in place and new materials la i d on top of it .

Roofing materi.l s that caul d be produced by the bull der i ncl uded s pl it

logs, split shakes , split shingles, sod, and thatched/straw. Whe re

c
manufactured materials were available, roof can be found compo sed of

sawed planks, plywood, asphalt shingl es, tar paper, and tin .

Windows: Two primary window types can be found in 19th and 20th century

vernacular constructi on, they are sash-type (Figure lIa) and caselnent-

type ( Figure lib) windows. The principal difference lies in the method

used to open the window. Sash-type windows slide open, either vertically
f
or horizontally, along wooden 9rooves. Casement- type windows rotate open

on hinges toward the interior or exterior of a structure . Much variation

exists within both window types concerning overall window size and the
Flg. 10. Roof t ypology: a, simp l e ga ble; b . multiple ~~~ ~e~~o~ :
nunber of glass panes. The basic term inology of window componen ts is gambrel; d . je rk in head (clipped gab le); e , hip roof; and f .

included in Figure 11.

 REFERENCES CITED
[ a I

Dl
Aldrich, Chil son D.
1934 The Real Log Cabin. New York: Haonillan.

Attebery, Jennifer Eastman

1976 Log Construction in the Sawtooth Valley of Idaho. Pioneer

f h
• Dl lImer ica 8 (1 ) : 36-46.

Erhon, Si rgud
1937 The North European Technique of Corner Timbering. Folklli 1 : 56-68.

I ] Glassie, Henry , and Fred Kniffen

1966 Building with Wood in the Eastern United States:
Perspect i ve. Ge ographi cal Review 56(1): 40-56.
A T1me-Plac~

II II
Gla ssie, Henry
1968 Pattern in the Material Folk Culture of the Eastern United States.
Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press.
r b 1 Gritzner, Charles F.
1969 Spani sh Log Cons truction in New Hexi co . Doctoral di sserta ti on,
Sash-type window Louisiana State University.

Hutslar, Donald A., and Jean J. Hutslar

1972 The Log Architecture of Ohio. Oh io History 80(3 and 4).
r a
1 Jordan, Terry
c 1978 Texas Log Build i nos : A Folk Architecture. Austin: University of

I~~ e
i I~ Texas Press.

Ka rn i, Michael, and Robert Levin

1972 Fi nn ish Log Cabins in Minnesota . North West Architect (3) :92-99.
f
d Kn i ffen, Fred
1936 Louisiana House Types. Annals of the Association of ,,"erican
Geographers 26(4):179 -1 93.
196 5 Folk Housing: A I<'ey to Diffusion. Annals of Association of
lImerican Geographers 55(4):549-576.

I~~ ~~ Kniffen, Fred, and Henry Glassie

1966 Building with Wood in the Eastern Un i ted States.
~ 56(1):40- 56 .
Geographical

r b 1 Lev i n, Robert, and Michael Karni

1972 Finnish Log Ca bins in Minnesota . North West Architect (3)92-99.
Ca.ement-type Window
Mackie, B. Allen
1972 Building with Logs. Pr ince George, BC: Hairy Woodpecker Press.
Fig. 11 . Window typology: at head; b. aill; c, rail.; d, .tiles ; e , lights
or panes; f , jamb. ; 8. IlUtinl; h, meeting rail' (8 and h on ca.ement type only);
i t mullion; j, hinge. (i and j on ca.e_Dt type only).
Mucke1roy, f)jncan C.
1974 Ranching Hi s tory of the ' hoerican We s t: Revita1Jzed Through the
Preservat i on of Its Architecture. Pioneer Amerlca 6(2) : 34- 42.

Shurtleff, llaro1d R.
1939 The Log Cabin Myth: A Study of Early Dwellings of the English
Colonies in North hoerlca. Cambridge : Harvard university Press.
LOG CABI N B!Bl.lOGRAPIlY
Sloane, Eric By
1964 A ItJseum of Early AIlerican Tools. New York: Funk and Wagnalls. Na r y Wil so n

Su1tz, Phillip W.
1964 From Sagebrush to Hay and Back Again. i'<nerican West 1(1):20-30.

1969 Architectural Values of Early Froniter Log Structures. In

Forms Upon the Frontier : Fo1k1ife and Folk Arts in the United
States. logan: Utah State un1verSity Press.

USDA Forest Service

Intermountain Region
1984

/0 I
 INTRODUCTION TABLE OF CONTENTS

This partially annotated bibliography Is not intended to be an exhaustive

listing of works about log construction, but rather a represent ative INTRODUCTION • • • • • • • • • •
s8.pltng of existing publica tIons . The 230+ listings are divided into six
sections according to subject matter. 1. MAJOR INFORMATIONAL SOURCES
A special thanlu! for this bibUo~raphy to Jerry WyUe and Donald Hill This section includes works that can at this time be considered
for making accessible the sources they ha ve gathered over the years about the most important because of their methodology, typology, or
log construction. just overall completeness.

2. THEORETICALLY VALUABLE SOURCES

This section includes works that form the basis for present
methodology in this field. PerspectIves include those of
geography, a nthropology, hi s tory, and architecture.

3. GENERAL SOURCES

Works in this sec tion are primarily popular works, either very
gene ral in nature or part of a study emphasizing other subject
matte r .

4. REGIONAL STUDIF.S • • .

A. The West~rn United States

n. The Midwest and Plains Sta t es 10

C. The Eastern and Southern United States 12

O. Out s ide the United Sta t es 16

s. LOG CABIN CONSTRUCTION. MAINTENANCE. AND RESTORATION 19

6. BIBLIOCRAPHIES • • • . • • . • . • • 22

10 3
 Part 1 - Major Informatio nal So ur ces 1969 On corner-timberi ng . Pionee r America : 1 (1): 1-4.

Desc ript ions and ill us tra tion s of a ll major notching t y pes , with
discussio ns a bo ut t heir origi ns , evol utio n, and relative merits.
Beale r, A. W., a nd J . O. Ellis
1978 The log cabin : homes of the North America n wilderness. NY: Cla r ksto n Mackie, B. Al l en
N. Potter, Inc. 19 72 Build i ng with logs. Prince Geo rge, B.C.: Hairy Woodpecker Pub.

A nonte chni cal look at the log cabin i n America, from colo nial times Mostly a "how-to" manua l, but provides information on French and
to the present . Ver y well illustrated. Canadian building t echniques .

Beard , D. C. 197 7 Notch es of a ll kind s . Prince George , B.C.: Uairy Woodpecke r Pub.
1914 Shel ters. s hack s , and s han tie s . NY : Cha rl es Scribner' s Sons .
Rock, Jim
Con tain s numerous sketches of log, pole , and timber co nstruc tion. 1980 Log cabi ns: horizontal log co nst ruc tion. Sis kiyou Count y His t orical
A very early look at this kind o f constr uctio n. Society TeC hnical Papers .

Dun field, John D. Wr i tt e n for use as a train i ng guid e for Klamath National Forest.
1974 Log cabin co ns truction . ( unpubl is hed paper) Ottawa, Ontario .
Stickley, Gus tav
Er lxon, Slrgud 1912 Arc hit ec tural development of the log cabi n in Ame rica . New Yor k :
1937 The North European te c hnique o f co rne r timb ering . Folkliv, 1: 56- 68. The Craf t sman Pub. Co.

A major work detailing Nor thern European notc h i ng - t ec hniqu es , Swanson, Wi lliam
distributions, and c hange over time. 1948 Log Ca bins . New York : The Macmi llan Company.

Fickes, C. P., and W. E. Crol e n Weslager, C. A.

1957 Building with logs. U.S . Fo r e st Service , misc . publi cation No . 5 79. 1969 The log cabin 1n America. Ru t gers University Press.

A prime r for 20th century l o g cabin cons truc tion with exce ll ent line One of the mos t signif ica nt and tho rough books on th e s ub jec t :
drawings and photos. inc ludes hist o ry, typolog y , illustrations.

Jordan, Terry
1978 Texas log buildings: a folk a r chi tecture. Austin: Univ. of Texas
Press .

A look a t Texas log cabi ns and their Germa ni c origins , as well as a

study .in me thodology .

Kniffen, Fre d B.
1936 Louisiana house types . Ann als of the Association of American
Geographers 26: 179-193 .

Important as an i nf o rmational source for floor-plan t e rminol ogy ,

applicable for most of the United States .

Kniffen, Fred 8., and Henry Glassie

1966 Building with wood in the easter n United States: a time - place
perspective. Geographical Review 56 (I ): 40-66.

Probably the most important brief publication on cabin technology,

it attempts to describe and interpret the es tablis hment and west-
ward movemen t of cabin techno l ogy across eastern North Ame rica.
 Part 2 - Theoretically Valuable Sources Part 3 - Genera l Sources

(The following publications a re not directly written about log const ruc t ion ,
Barnett, Homer
but do include some cabin information, or else are about cabins , but of a
1953 Innovation . New York: MacC r aw Hill .
very gene ral na ture.)
An overlooked but important s ource in the ana lys is of change within
culture . His th eories are very applicable to verna cular ar chi t ec ture.
Aldri ch, Ch i l son D.
1934 Th e r ea l log ca bi n. Ne w York : Macmillan Co.
Class ie, Henry
1968 Pattern in the mat e rial folk c ulture of the eas tern United States .
Brochner, George
Philadelphia : Univer si ty of Pe nnsylva nia Press.
1913 The revival of the l o g ca bin. New York : House and Carden.
Defines and examines vernacular architec ture in the eastern United
Bruyere, C., a nd Bob Bruyere
States, with an emphasis on origins and mechanisms for change .
1975 In harmony with nature. New Yo rk : Drake Publis hers, Inc.
1975 Folk housing in middle Virginia. Knoxvil le : University of Tennessee
1976 Countr y com f o rt s . New York : Drake Publishers, I nc .
Press .
Fife, Austin
Probably the most detailed s tudy of a vernac ular architecture in
1957 Folklo re of material cu lture on the Rocky Mountain frontier.
existence. Looks a t changes in typology over a 200-year period in Ar izona Quar terl y 13: 104-110 .
the a rchitecture of middle Virgin ia. Study includes both log and
t r amc s tr uc tures . Gould I Mary Earl
1965 Early American life: households in Ame rica (16 20-1850) .
Kniffen, Fred B. Ruttland. Vermont : Tuttle Publisher! .
1965 Folk hou s ing: a key to diffu s ion. Annals of the Association of
American Geographers 55 (4): 549-577 . Graves . Ric ha rd H.
1952 Bush hutmak ing: thatched huts. ramme d ea rth. log cabins . Sydney:
A geog r apher' s view of vernacular types. It inc ludes a look a t J. M. Graves (di s tribut ed via Shakespeare Pres s).
notc hing and cabin types (inc luding some front-gabled varieties)
and traces the western diffusion of t hese varia bles (into the Guidori, Enr ico
Midwest only). 1977 Primi tive a r chitec tur e. New Yo rk : H. N. Abrahams.

Meyer, Doug l as K. Int e r es ting c ross -cultural look at vernac ula r building t raditions.
1975 Diffusion of th e Upland Sou t h folk housing into the Shawnee Hills of
s outhern Illinois. Pioneer American 7 (2) : 56-66. Herring . Eth e l
1976 Echos of a log cabin . Win s t on- Sa l em, N.C.: Hunter Publishe rs.
A test of Classie ' 9 theories about changes q,nd diffusion a s put forth
in his Middle Virginia book . Hoover, Helen
1969 A elace in [he woods. New York : Alphred A. Knopf.
Roberts, Warren E.
1972 Folk architec ture in context: the fo lk museum. Proceedings of the Karasz I Lowka
Pioneer American Society 1: 34-50. 1928 Log ho us e in good t aste. Hous e Beaut if ul 64: July issue.

Shurtl eff, Harold R. Kemp, Ol ive r

1939 The log cabin myth: a study of early dwe llings of the English 1908 Wild erness homes: a book o f log cabins. New York: The Outing
colonists in No rth America. Cambridge: Harvard University Press . Publishing Co. (2 nd e d ., 1911).

A separation of fact from fiction In the early architecture and Klammer, Paul W.
materials of North American colonists ; very good source for t he 1963 Building with logs . Go pher Historian, Fall: St. Paul , Hinn .
historical background of log housing in North America.
 Scully, Vin
Laba s tv i ll e , .\nne 1962 The earth the t emple , and the gods . New Haven: Yale University Press.
19 76 Woodswoman . New York: E. P. Dutton and Co.
Shepa rd, Augustus
Merc e r, H. C. 1931 Camps in the woods. New Yo rk ; Architec tural Publishing Company.
1923 The dating of old home s. Doylestown, Pa.: Bucks County Histo r ical
Soc iety Paper s , Vol. 5. Sloane, Eric
1954 American barns and covered br idges. New York: Funk and Wagnalls .
197 5 Anci en t ca rpen ter' s tool s . Doylestown, Pa . : Bucks Count y Historic:!l
Society (reprint) . 1964 A museum. of early American tools. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.
Mo rr iso n, Hu gh 1965 A reverence for wood . New York: Wilfred Funk, Inc.
19 52 Ea rly Ame rica n architecture: colonial t o national period. Toront o :
Ox ford University Press . 1967 An age of barns. New York : Funk and Wagnalls.

Mould, J ac k Sunset Magazine Staff

1976 Stumpfarms and broadaxes . Sea ttle , Wa s h. : Handcock House .
L975 Cabins a nd vacation homes. Menlo Park, Calif.: Lane Publishing Co.
Newton, Jan e t Fos t e r 1976 The log cabin r enaissance; .Sunset Magazine, October : 74-83.
1944 Log ca bin - o r frame? Antiques Magazine 46: Novemb e r.
Wa terman, Thomas T.
1977 Log cabins as public occasions; Annals of the Associatio n o f Ameri can
1950 The dwelling s of colonial America . Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of
Geo graphers: September . No rth Carol i na Press.

Or ia ns , G. Harrison Wiggington, Eli o t; Editor

1955 My life in a log house; Northwest Ohio Quarterly 27 : Fall.
1972 The f o xfire book. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Co.
Ows l ey I Fr a nk 1917 The fox fire bo ok IV. Ga rden City , N. Y.: Doubleday a nd Co.,/Anchor
1949 Plain folk of the old South. Baton Rouge : Louisiana State Unive r si t y
Press.
Press.
Williams, J o hn S.
Peterso n, Cha rl es E . 1843 Our ca bin; o r lif e in th e woo ds. American Pioneer 2(10) : 435-439 .
L976 Building early America. Radnor, Pa.: Chilton Book Company.
An o ri gi nal account of ca bin construction on the Ohio fr o ntier.
Kildare, Maurice
1967 Old cabi n corners; Relics, fall i ss ue: 16-18.

Gives some unique l ayman t s t e rminology f o r notch name s ; s h ows s ome

of the variation that exis t s in we s t e rn building t ypes.

1970 Cabins wes t; Re lics 3(5) : 6-9, 28-29 .

Robinson, Cap tain S .

1927 The manne r o f the bac kwood s ; House and Garden Magazine : May .

Rustrum, Calvin
L96L The wild erne ss cabi n. New York : Macmillan Co .

A gene r a l ove rview of cabin a nd adobe techniques and variatio ns .

Sale, Edith Tuni s

1929 A little cabin of logs ; House Beautiful 65: Hay .

.,
 Ha rtung, John A.
Part 4 - Regional Studies
1978 Ooc~~_ E.!.....P.Fimi t'!y.!_ resources in the Idaho Pr imi t i ve Area,
A. The We! ":e rn Unite d St a t es Big Creek d..rainage. U:'lpublisbed theaia, University of Idaho,
Fo restry Department.

A report documenting field inventories and oral history. Includes

Attebery, Jennifer Eastman many photos of s tructures, both occupied and abandoned.
1916 Log c onstruction in the Sawtooth Va lley of Idaho . Pioneer America
J a c kson, J . B.
8(1): 36-46 .
1975 A c atalog of New Mexico building terms. Landscape 1(3): 31-32 .
Beauvais, Robert
1972 New Mexico log resiJence of Stephan W. Dorsey. New Mexico A short glossary of Mexican architectural terms , both official
a nd verna c ular.
Architecture Magazine, Nov./Dec .
Mc Da ni e l, M" rion, and Jerry Wylie
Ca rlson, Axel R. 197 9
1977 Building a log house in Alaska . Fairba nks. Ala s ka : Univers i ty of ~_~ural resource evaluation of Sater Cabin - Little Creek. Middle
Ala ska Cooperative Extension Service. For\- Ranger District, Challis National Forest, Idaho . USDA, Forest
Se rv ~ ce, Intermountain Region.

Carrey, Johnny, and Cort Conley

Rigg ins. Idaho: Backeddy Mu c ke lroy , Dunc &n C.
h 17 The Middle Fork and the Shee peater lia r.
1974 Ran ching history of the American West : revitalized through
Books.
th e preservation of its architecture. Pioneer America 6(2): 34-4 2 .
1978 River of no return . Riggins, Idaho: Backeddy Books.
Looks a t e xample8 of preserved Texas ranch houses, including
Sna ke River of Hells Canyon. Riggins. Idaho : Backeddy Books. dugo uts, and vertical log construction.
1979
Pe rr y , Edga r
All three of these Carrey/Conley books are informal histories, based
mostly on ora l history of the areas discus s ed . Very good recent and 197 1 The oJ! J.E.&.....£!lM.!l. Tucson: The Arizona State Historica l Socie t y .
older photC'ls along with dates of construction for many of the s hown
Pittma n, Leo n Sidney
structures give them s ome typological merit .
1973 ~~~~Y_~_L}E-e_19th c e.!!!~rJ__~.k housing of the Mormons. Sa lt La ke
Comstoc k. lIilliam Phillips Cit y: Utah Stat e Hi storical Society.
1915 Bungalows . camps I and mountain houses. William Comstock Co.
Pr oe nneke , Kei th. a nd Richard Proenneke
Fo nta na, Ber na rd L. 1973 One ma n 's wilderness. An c horage, Alaska : Al aska No rthwes t Pu blis hin g
Co;pany-.- - - - - - -
1967 The a r chaeology o f pos t - 18th century r a nches in the United States .
His tor ical Ar c haeology 1:60-63.
Rice , Ed
While not c o nc erned wi th s tructures in particular, Fontana looks 1975 Build i ng in the North . Fairbanks, Al a ska: Geoph ys ical I ns t it ut e ,
a t the r e l a tions between s truc tures , ac tivities, and means of Uni ve rs i t y of~
subsistence .
Sc h umann , DaVid R.
1976 B u il di n~ house 1088 in Alaska . Juneau, Alas ka :
Gritzoer, Charles F . Divi sio n of
1969 Spanish log cons truc tion 1n New Mex i c o. Doctoral disserta tion, State and Priva t e Fo restry, USDA, Fores t Service .
Louisiana St a t e Univ er si ty .
Segge r, Marti n
A very compl ete s tu~y of bu i lding t e chniques a nd types in New Mexi co. 1977 Lo g i dom su rv i vala in lIest Coast arch ite cture (1890-1930 ). Banff .
Al be rt a : Ca nad i a n Log Struc tures Con f erenc e.
1971 Log housing in New Mexico. Pioneer Americ a 3(2) : 60-63.

Discusses Mexican i nfl ue nces in housing from the southwestern

United States , emphas izing di f ferenCeD in form, function, and
materials.

r
II~
/11
Sultz, Phillip W. B. The Midwest a nd Plains States
1964 FrOIO .agebruah to hay and baclt aga!p. American West 1(1) : 20-30.

A photo-e •• ay of log structures around Jackson Hole, Wyoming .

Bonebrlght, Harriet
1969 Architectural value. of early frontier log structures. From Forms 1921 Reminiscences of Newcastle, lowa in 1848. Des Moines : State of Iowa
upon the frontier: folltlife and follt arta in the United States. His t ory Dep t.
Logan , Utah.
Brandt, Lawrence R., and Ned E. Braatz
Agatn dealinl with Jacuon Hole, Wyotl!ng. bat also discusses the 197 2 Log buildings in Portage County, Wisconsin : some cultural implica ti ons.
factors that _y have influenced structural design. Pioneer America 4(1) : 29-39.

Dale, Edward E.
Sutherland, K• • and J. Lock
1949 Adobe New Mexico. National Geoaraphic 96(6): December. 1945 From log cabin to sad house. Journal of the Illinois State Historical
Society 38(4) : December.
Vaughan, Thoaaaa i Editor
1974 Space. style. and structure : build!n•• in northwest America (2 volumes) . Fisher, Onei ta
Portland: Oregon Hiat'orical Society. 1965 Life in a l og cabin . Annals of Iowa 37(8): 561-~73.

A thorough examination of Northwest bUild!ng styles from pioneer days Hudson, Joh n
to modern cities. 1975 Fr o nti e r ho us ing in North Dakota. State Historical SOCie ty o f Nort h
Dakota: Fall.
Woodward, Claire V.
1975 Ethnohiatory of Balter Cabin, Cl.c ....... City, Oregon. Unpublished Hutslar, Donald A. , a nd J ea n J. Hutsla r
thesia, Portland: Portland State University. 197 1 The l og architect ur e o f Ohio . Ohio History 80(3 and 4).

Wylie, Jerry A majo r work do cume nting a 6-year s tudy .

1978 Cultural reeource evaluation of the Saclt (Kipp) cabin, Big Springs.
Island Park Ranger District, T.rshee National Forest, ldah"" . USDA- Irish, Jane
Forest Service. Inte.rIIOUDtain Region. 1940 Log cabins of Iowa. I owa St ate Historical Socl~ty: WPA Fil e fl2 .

1979 A cultural resource. evaluation of the Cabin Creek Ranch. P!yette Karnl, Mic hae l, a nd Robe rt '..e vin
National Foreat. Appendices by R088i1110n and Sprague. Green. 1972 Fin ni s h log cabins in Minneso t a . Nor th Wes t Architect May/JWle: 92-99.
Attebery, Dalatr..-. H.artuna. and Wella. USDA-Foreat Service,
Intermountain Region. Klamme r, Pa ul A.
1960 Collec ting log ca bins: a phot og r ap he r' s ho bb y. Minnesot a His t o ry
37 (2) .

Koc h, William
1974 Corner timbering a nd wood use in Kansa s log str uc tur es. Manha tt an ,
Kan . : Kan s as State Univ e r si t y .

Mars ha ll. H'lI."q rd Wight

1971 Th e "t hco l1sand ar. r es " log house , Monroe Co unt y, I nd i ana . Pionee r
America 3(1i: 48-56.

Meye r, DOlI'tlas K.
197 5 Oiff usion o f folk houses in the Shawnee Hills of Illinois . Pioneer
ADler ica: July.

Pe rrin, Ri c hard W. E.
196 7 The architec tur e of Wisconsin. Madison: The State His tori c al
Socie ~ y o f Wisconsin.

1/3
I tel
 C. The East and the South
Petersen, William J.
1960 A pioneer log cabin. Palimps est State Historicsl Society 41(11):
November.
Alexander, Drury 8., and Tod Webb
Roberts, Warren E. 1966 Texas homes of the nineteenth century. Austin: The University of
1977 The too ls used in building log houses 1n Indiana. Pioneer America
Texas Press.
9(1): 32-61.
Alcott, John V.
Schu tt e, John A. C. 1963 Colonial hootes in North Carolina. Carolina Charter Tercentenary
1973 Reco rd of log house restoration - New Salem, Illinois. ~
Committee, Raleigh.
State His torical Society.
Arthur, E. R., and D. Whitney
St a uffe r, Florence S. 1972 The barn. New York : New York Graphic Society .
1978 Conner Prairie pioneer settlement: a living muse um . Early American
Life 9(1): 38-41, 54.
Baber, Adin, and Mary E. Lobb
1969 The Lincoln log cabins. Lincoln Herald 71(1): 19-26.
Vlach, Jo hn W.
1972 The Canada homes t ead: a saddlebag l og house in Monroe County,
Bastian, Robert W.
India na . Pioneer America 4(2) : 8- 17.
1977 Indiana folk architecture: a lower mid-western index. Pioneer
America 9(2) : 113-136.
1895 The 'lId log house. Michigan Pioneer and Hist orical Society.
Black, Patti Carr
Welsch, Roge r L. 1976 Mississippi piney woods architecture. Jackson: MissiSSippi State
1980 Neb raska log cons truc tion: momentum in tr adi tion . Nebraska History ,
History Museum.
fall: 3 10-335 .
Bucher, Rober t C.
Witzel, S. A. 1962 The continental log house. Pennsylvania Folklife 12 (4): 14-19 .
1935 Log buildings. Madison: Agricultural Extension Service Circular 158,
Un iversi t y of Wisconsin. Conger, Roger N.
1954 Historic 108 cabins in McLennan County. Texas. Waco, Texas: Heritage
Socie ty o f Waco.

Connor , Seymor V.
1949 Log ca bin s in Texas. The Southwestern Historical Qusrterly 53(2):
105-11 5.

Durham, Walt. T .
1974 Wynnewood. Tennessee Historical Quarterly 33 ( 2): 48-56.

Dwyer, Charles P.
18 72 The immigrant builder - or practical hints for the handyman.
Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen, and Heffelfinger.

Franklin, James
1973 Castilian Springs preservation - Tennessee log complex . Chat t anooga,
Tenn. : James Franklin and Associates.

Glassie, Henry
1963 The Appalachian log cabin . HoWltain Life and Work 39(4): 5-14 .

' "

1/"
 1964 The s . .ller outbuildinS. of the southern lIIOuntains. Mountain Life Kelley, J. Frederick
and Work. 21-29.
1924 Early domestic architecture of Connecticut. New Haven, Conn .:
Yale University Press.
1965a A central chi_ey continenul log house. Pe:;nsylvania Folklife
18(2): 33-39. 1940 A s eventeenth century Connecticut log house. Old Time New England
1965b The old barn. of Appalachia. Mountain Life and Work, summer: 21-29. Society f o r the Preservation of Antiques : October.

Kniffen, Fred B.
1968a Pattern in the . . terial folk culture of the . .stern United Statea.
Philadelphia: University of Philadelphia Pre.s. 1936 Louisiana house t ypes. Annal s of the Association of American
Geogra phers 26 : 179-193.
1968b The types of the Bouthern .auntain cabin. Appendix C of Jan Bruvand' s 1966
The Study of _rican Folklore. New York: W. W. Norton. Building with woo d in the eas t e rn Uni ted States: a time-place
pe rspective. (coa uthored with Henry Glsssie) Geographical Review
56(1): 40-66.
1975 Folk housing in Middle Virginia. Knoxville: University of Tennessee
Press. 1963 The physiognomy of rur a l Lo ui siana . Louisiana His tory 4(4): 291-299 .
Giles, Henry E" Janice Holt Gi'les McMurty, R. Ge rald
1963 A little better than pI...., : the bibliography of a house. Boa ton ,
Hass .: Houghton Mifflin. 19 74 The Hardin Thomas House (Ke ntucky). Lincol n Herald 76(1) : 172- 271.
McRaven, Cha rl es
Heimsath, Clovis
1968 Pioneer Texas buildings - a leometry lesson. Austin, Texas : University 1978 Build in g the he wn log house. Ho llister, Mo . : Mo unt a in Publi s hing
Service s.
of Texas Press.
Mantell, W. L.
Hendershott I Allan
1937 Handicrafts in the southern highlands. New York : The Russell Sage 1976 Kentucky folk architecture . Lex ing ton, Ky . : Kentucky Bicen t e nnia l
Foundation . Books hel f, University Press .

OtMalley, J ames R., a nd John Br e nder

Hulan, Richard H.
1975 The middle Tennessee dogtrot house. Pioneer America 7(2): 37-46. 1978 The two-s t o r y log c abin in the Up land So uth. Pop ul ar Cultur e 11(4) :
904- 9 15 .
Jeffers, Jack
Rosenb e rge r, Jess e Leonard
1975 Cabins o f the Blue Ridge: a photographic e . .ay. Virginia Cavalcade
24(3) : 116-123. 1923 The Penns ylvania Germans. Chicago : Universi ty of Chicago Press .

S tuck, Goo dloe

Johns ton, Francis B.
1941 The early architecture of North Carolina . Chapel Hill : University 1971 Log hOUSe< i n no rthwes t Lo ui sia na . Lo uisiana Stud ies 10(4): 225-237 .
of North Carolina Press .
1978 Restoring a log house in De Soto Paris h . North Lo uisiana Historical
Association 9 (3) : 143-1 46.
Jordan, Terry G.
1978 Texas log buildings: a folk architecture. Austin, Texas: University Thomas, James C.
of Texas Press.
19 74 The log houses of Kentuck y. Antiques 105: 791-798.
1976 Log timbering in Texa. . Pioneer America 8(1): 8-18.
Wacker I Peter 0. , a nd Bob Trindel
Fillsbury, R., and A. Kardo8 1969 The l og house i n New Jers e y - origins and diffusion. Keys tone
Folklore Quarterly: Winter.
1970 A field guide to folk architecture of the northeastern United States.
Hanover I N. H.: Dart.outh Colleae Pre.l.
Wells, Carol
197 5 Earliest log cabi ns o f the Natc hoch ites. North Louisiana Historical
Association Journ al 6(3): 117-122 .

l it
Wealager. C. A. D. - Outside the United States
1955 Log houses in Pennsylvania during the seventeenth century .
Pennsylvania History 5(22): 256-265.
Abl e r , Thomas S .
Willis. Stanley
1972 Log houses in southwest Virginia: tools used in their construction . 1970 Longhouse a nd palisade, northwest Iroquoian village of the seven-
Virginia Cavalcade 21 (4): 36-47. t een th century. Ontario History 62: 17-40.

Al na es , Eyvind, e t al.
Wi~;;;. EU~::ama folk houses. Montgomery, Ala.: Alabama Historical Commission. 1950 Norwegian architecture throughou t the ages .
H. Aschehough and Co.
Oslo, Norway:

Woods, John
Arthur. Eric Ross
1904 Two years residence in settiements on the English prairie. Early
Western Travels. 1748-1846. edited by Rueben G. Thwaites : 274-279. 1938 The early buildings of Ontario . Toronto, Ontario: Univer s ity of
Toron t o Press.
Cleveland.
Boe thius, Gerda
Zelinsky. Wilbur
1953 The log house in Georgia. Geographical Review 43(2) : 173-193. 1927 Studier i de n Nordiska timme rbyggnadskonst e n. Stockholm, Sweden.

1977 The Canadia n log ho use. Prince George , B. C.

Bugge , Gunnar, and Chris ti a n Norborg-Schulze

1969 Early wooden architecture in No rway. Oslo, Norway: Bygge kunst.

Bur caw, Geo rge E.

1973 The Saxon Ho use as a cultural index in European ethnography . Moscow,
Idaho: University of Idaho Press.

Clemson, Donova n
1974 Living with logs: British Columbia's log buildings and rail fences.
Sani chton, B. C.: Hancock House.

Erexon, Sirgud
1937 The north Europea n technique of corner-timbering . Folkllv 1: 56-68 .

Gimbutas , Har gia

1956 The prehistory of Eas t e rn Europe. Cambridge, Mass.: The Peabo dy
Museum.

1963 The BaI t s . London, England: Thames and Hudson.

Gowa ns, Alan

1958 Looking at architecture in Canada . Toron t o, Ontario: Oxford
Universi ty Press.

Gull e t, Edwin C.
1963 The pioneer farmer and bac kwoods man. Toronto, Ontario: Unive r s ity
o f Toronto Press.

Hale, Richard W.
1963 The French side of t he log cabin myth. Mass. Historical SOCiety:
118-1 25.

WI
Hansen, Hans Jurgen Roe, Frank Gilbert
1971 Architecture in wood. London, England: Fabe r and Faber. 1958 The old log house in western Canada. Alberta Historical Review
6 (2): 1-9.
Hallerot, Bjorn
1965 Timmerhus. Falv Nya Boktryckeri, Artifbolag. Vriem , Halvor
1937 The ancient settlements of Finmark, Norway. Folkl1v 2, 3.
Jacquet, Pierre
1963 The Swiss chalet. Zurich: Orell Fussl1. Wade, Jill
1971 Log construction at the Red River. Canadian Antiques Collector :
Kavli, Guthorm, et al. 30-36, November/December.
1958 Norwegian archite cture - past and present. Oslo , Norway : Oreyer s Forlag .
Weslager, C. A.
Laframboise . Yves 1952 Log structures in New Sweden during the seventeenth century.
1975 Ltarchitecture tr aditionalle au Quebec aux 17 a t 18 s i ecles. Montreal, Delaware History 5: 77-95.
Quebec: Les Editions De L'Homme.
Winberry. John J.
Lehr, John 1974 The log house in Mexico. Annals of the Association of American
1976 Ukr anian vernacul a r architect u-:e in Alberta. Alberta Cultural H is~ Geographers 64:54-69.
Resources Commission (l).
Wonders, William C.
Mackie, B. Allan 1979 Log dwellings in Canada. Annals of the Association of American
19 72 Building with l ogs. Prince Geo rg e: Hairy Woo dpecker Pub lications. Geographers 69(2) : 187-207.

19 74- The Canadian log house (annual publica tion). Prince Geo rge: Alla n
1978 Hackie Publications.

Me r ce r, Eric
1975 Englis h vernacular architecture. London, England: Royal Commission
on His torical Doc ument s .

Patterson, C. , a nd L. C. Patterson
1938 Pioneer days i n Ontario . Toronto, Ontario: Rye r son Press .

Rempel, John I.
1967 Building with wood and o the r as pec t s of nine t eenth cen tury buildi ng
in Ontario . Toronto , On t a r io : Unive r si t y o f To ronto Press .

Richardson , A. H. J.
1973 A comparative study of timb e r buildings in Canada . Ott awa , Ontario :
Association for Preservation Technology .

Ritchie , T.
1967 Canada buildings - 1867- 1967. To r onto , Ontario: University o f
Toronto Press .

1971 Plank wall f raming: a modern wall construction with an ancient

history. Pape r 1347 , Divis ion of Building Research. Ottawa , Ontario.

Roberts I Warren
1976 Some comments on log construc t ion in Scand i navia and the United States.
Bloomington , Ind .: Indiana Fo lklore Institute, Indiana Universi t y .

rr
/ )..1
 Part 5 - Cons truc tion and Restoration Goodall, Harrison, and Renee Friedman
1980 LOl structures: preservation and problem-solving. Nashville, Tenn.:
Society for State and Local History,

Anderson, L. o. Hard, Roger

1975 Wood house cons truction . Agricultural Handbook 73 . Washington: 1977 Build your own low-cost log house. Charlotte, Vt.: Garden Way
Government Printing Office. Associa tes.

Angier, Bradford Hunt, Walter B.

1952 How to build yo ur home i n the woods. New York: Sherida n House , Hart 1939 Rustic construction. Milwaukee, Wis. : Bruce Publishing Company.
Publishing .
1939 How to build and furnish a loa cabin. New York: Collier - Macmillan
Balkan , Donna Company (revised editions a180 1947. 1974).
1976 How t o build a l og house of 24 0 pine logs. Ontario Citizen: October 30.
Hutslar, Donald A.
Barton, Arthur 1974 Log cabin restoration; guidelines for the historical society . History
1941 Log cabin construction. Bulletin 22, Michigan State Extension Service. News (History Technical Leaflet 74).

Brimme r, Frank E. Jenkins, Thomas A.

1925 Camps. log cabins. lodges . and clubhouses. New York : D. Appleton 1976 Reloca tion and restoration of a North Carolina log home . Chapel Hill,
a nd Company. N.C.: North Carolina Bicentennial Commission .

Bruette, William Arthur; Editor Lei tch, William C.

1934 Log cabins a nd cottages; how to build and furnish them, by practical 19 76 Hand-hewn: the art of building your own cabin. San Francisco:
a r chitects a nd woodsmen. New York: A. Bruette . Chronicle Sooks.

I ncludes a sec tion (pp. 8-39 ) originally published in 1889 under the Livingstone, Jeffery
title of "Log Cabins," by William S. Wicks. 1955 Bui l d your own swamer camp or cabin. New York : McGraw-Hill Company .

Coon, Milton C.; Editor Mason, Be rnard S . f and Frederick H. Kock

1964 Restoration and prese rvation of historic buildings. Building 1947 Cabins. cottages and summer homes. New York: A. S. Barnes and
Resea r ch 1 (5). Company.

Provides benchmark data for the documentation of historic struc tur es. Meinecke, Conrad E.
1947 Cabincrafts a nd outdoor living_ Buffalo, N.Y.: Foster and Stewart.
DeGroot, Rodney C.
1976 Your wo od can last for centuries. USDA. Washington: Government 1945 Yo ur cabin in the woods, a compilation of cabin plans and philosophy
Printing Office. for discovering life In the gre.a t out-doors. Buffalo, N.Y.: Foster
a nd Stewart Publishers.
Oillion, Ralph P.; Editor
1938 Sunset t s cabin book. San Francisco: Sunset Magazine. Henderson, Tracey
1977 Log cabin kits - you can build them yourself. West ern Liv ing Magazine,
Fikes, C. P.; Editor May.
1935 Cons truction and maintenance of Forest improvements. Region 1
Handbook , U.S. Forest Service. Hunger, John W.
1949 How to build a log cabin. Detroit. Hich.: Griffen H. Hunger
An excellent so urce of techniques , plans, and cons truction concepts
utilized by the Forest Service througho ut the Rocky Mountain west. Parker, J. B.
1932 Vacation cabins: a selection of small cabins for comfort . utility .
1957 Building with logs. U.S . Forest Service misc. publi catio n 579. and economy . Memphis, Tenn. : Cooke Printing Company.

M
/~3
Phillips , R. A. G. Part 6 - Bibliographies
1976 Moving and erection of log buildings. Heritage Canada: November .

Roe , Frank Gilbert

1958 The old log house in western Canada. Alberta Historical Review Hill, Donald R.
6(2): 1- 9. 1978 Select bibliography list of log homes and related wilderness
experiences. Not published; Hr. Hill a consultant for ~ Lfome
Roft, J . W., and R. S. Smith Builders Guide: Huir Publishing Company, Rutland, Vt.
1975 Protection and preservation of wood in service. Vancouver : Western
Fores t Produc ts Lab. While not annotated. this is one of the largest bibliographies
available. Emphasis is with cabin construction; over 100 entries.
Rowell, Black, Gjovlk, and Feist Host of these works are from popular and trade sources.
1977 Protecting log cabins from decay. Madis on, Wis.: USDA-Forest Service;
Forest Products Laboratory General Technical Report PPL-ll. Look, David W.
1975 Selec ·ed bibliogra phy on cottages and cabins . Washington: Office
Rustrum, Calvin of Archat .... !ogy and Historic Preservation, National Park Service,
1972 The wilderness cabin . New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. U.S. Dept. of the Interior.

St. George, R. A. The emphaSis on this bi~liography is on construction; it includes

1962 Protecting 108 cabins from insects in the eastern United States. many o lder listings; 31 references are sited; it i s no t annotated.
Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office No . 2104.
1975 Selected bibliography on log structures . Washington: Office of
Scharff. Robert Archaeology and Historic Preservation, National Park Service,
1952 Complete 81.m1Der homes handbook. New York : Prentice-Hall . U.S. Dept. of the Interior.

Schutte, John A. C. Similar to Look I s other bibliography, but more emphasis on typology
1973 Record of log house restoration - New Salem, Illinois and regionAl s tudies, including those outside the United States.
Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Historical Society. Over 30 listings; it is not annotated.

Walton, Harry Walker, Richard 1.

1964 Ho", to build your cabin or vacation home. New York : Popular Science 1974 Log cabin construction (origin and history) : annotated bibliography.
Book; Harper and Roe Publishers. Unpublished, at Anthropology Department, UniverSity of Idaho.

Warrick, John Includes 33 references covering construction, his tory. and re gional
1949 How to build a log cabin. Detroit, Hich. : G. H. Hunger. studies; very useful annotations.

Wicks, William S. Wylie . Jerry, and Mary A. Wilson

1889 Log cabins : how to build and furnish them. New York: Forest and 1980 A selected log cabin a nnotated bibhography. Idaho Cultural Resource
Stream Publishing Company. Handbook, Intermountain Region (4). Forest Service, USDA .

Witzel, S. A. Includes 51 references ; the most complete annota t ed bibliograp hy

1935 Log buildings. Ci rcular #158, Agricultural Extension Service. available . Emphasis on regional studies. th e western United
Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin. States in particular .

• U.I . Gvter_nt 'dntlns OU le- 1984 - 77 ..... 0"9212 ... . I I J. {,

 CULTURAL RESOURCE REPORTS

USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region

324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401

Jerry Wylie and Tom Scott

Editors

-No. 1- Archeological Reconnaissance Survey of the Bridger-Teton National

Forest. George C. Frison (1975).

-No. 2- The Elk Ridge Archeological Project: A Test of Random Sampling in Ar-
cheological Surveying. Evan I. DeBloois (1975).

- NO.3- lithic Sites of the LaSal Mountains, Southeastern Utah . Dee F. Green
(1974).

- No. 4- Pahsimeroi Valley Longitudinal Subsistence-Settlement and Land Use

Study. James C. Chatters (1976).

NO. 5- The Archeology of the Sheepeater Battleground and Redfish Overhang

Sites: Settlement Model for Central Idaho. Joseph G. Gallagher (1979).

NO. 6 - An Overview of History in the Drainage Basin of the Middle Fork of the
Salmon River . Mary P. Rossillon (1981).

-No.7- A Cultural Resource Reconna issance of the Middle Fork Salmon River,
Idaho, 1978. Ruthann Knudson and others (1 982).

NO. 8 - A Cul tural Resource Overview of the River of No Return Wilderness ,

Idaho. Leslie Wlldesen (1982).

NO. 9- Log Cabin Studies. Mary Wilson (1984).

• (Out of pri nt)

I J ~