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The Making of America => Ask the Historians => Topic started by: chuck w. on April 10, 2010, 06:45:13 PM

Title: Log cabin construction
Post by: chuck w. on April 10, 2010, 06:45:13 PM
On another forum a question was asked that started a whole string of speculation and guessing. A picture of an old cabin was posted showing the floor being  dug down about two and a half to three foot deep inside the cabin. this made for short walls and a step down to get in. what was the purpose of this kind of construction? There were many guesses but no real answers. C.W.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: NAULTRICK1 on April 10, 2010, 08:41:03 PM
 [hmm] Cool in the Heat, and warmth in the winter????? Or maybe just too much work cuttin and scrapin logs??????In My case it'ud be laziness  ROFL ROFL ROFL
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: old salt on April 10, 2010, 10:29:12 PM
Naultricki is mostly right, but it was also done for defence, while you can't
shoot through the logs you can shoot thought the chiking. it you are below ground level it is harder to hit you.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: chuck w. on April 11, 2010, 12:40:24 AM
Quote from: NAULTRICK1 on April 10, 2010, 08:41:03 PM
[hmm] Cool in the Heat, and warmth in the winter????? Or maybe just too much work cuttin and scrapin logs??????In My case it'ud be laziness  ROFL ROFL ROFL


I fully understand wanting to economise on the persperation! C.W.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: chuck w. on April 11, 2010, 12:41:45 AM
Quote from: old salt on April 10, 2010, 10:29:12 PM
Naultricki is mostly right, but it was also done for defence, while you can
shoot through the logs you can shoot thought the chiking. it you are below ground level it is harder to hit you.

Defense. Good idea. I think that was used in a scene in Death Hunt. C.W.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Red Badger on April 11, 2010, 01:26:20 AM
according to the U of W )University of Wisconsin) website it was a common practice to build cabins this way for two reasons

#1 Defense
#2 sever weather

Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: chuck w. on April 11, 2010, 05:04:28 PM
Quote from: Red Badger on April 11, 2010, 01:26:20 AM
according to the U of W )University of Wisconsin) website it was a common practice to build cabins this way for two reasons

#1 Defense
#2 sever weather



Thanks Red badger, this is what we were speculating on another site. Make the most sense. C.W.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Red Badger on April 12, 2010, 01:31:42 AM
I guess even the pioneers knew that when a twister was around...
..... the best place to be is underground....

Sorry I could not resist....

Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Otter on March 28, 2011, 02:01:39 PM
Quote from: Red Badger on April 12, 2010, 01:31:42 AM
I guess even the pioneers knew that when a twister was around...
..... the best place to be is underground....

Sorry I could not resist....


Good point Red Badger, After all that would be a form of defense wouldn't it?
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Tim Burns on March 28, 2011, 08:55:39 PM


[/quote]
Good point Red Badger, After all that would be a form of defense wouldn't it?

Them Badgers being Furry -Below Ground dwelling critters, should know all about this. Probably hides his jug at the far end of the tunnel... [hmm]
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Red Badger on March 28, 2011, 09:00:56 PM
no I do not!  Thats the first place ya'll look for it!  but seriously I do not understand why the dwellings here in Oklahoma don't have more basements or cellers or even storm shelters... does not make sense to me...
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: ErikPrice1@msn.com on March 28, 2011, 09:13:11 PM
I know, I know, it's so when you hit the jug too much it don't SEEM like the floor is so far down when you tip over. chrrs chrrs pnic
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: crazell on March 28, 2011, 09:51:34 PM
 ROFL ROFL . maybe he's already on the floor ROFL ROFL
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Otter on March 28, 2011, 10:00:27 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 28, 2011, 08:55:39 PM


Good point Red Badger, After all that would be a form of defense wouldn't it?

Them Badgers being Furry -Below Ground dwelling critters, should know all about this. Probably hides his jug at the far end of the tunnel... [hmm]
[/quote]
As a mater of fact there was one there.  Ummm  is one there... oops
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: shootrj2003 on March 28, 2011, 10:56:11 PM
RedBadger,
 That is a question I always' wondered about myself,I grew up in many areas prone to tornado's, the worst,as far number of tornados,was in Ozark, Al.,This may or may not jive with actual records but my experience was I saw more tornaddos in the two years we lived there than any where else that I lived,and several passed by the house,one passed by the house right after dinner when mom was serving dessert,it blew out the window,sucked off the two table legs and dropped everything right on the floor doing no further damage! but,we did have a storm cellar and it was an older house,but ,my brothers new house right there in Broken Arrow was on a slab with no provision for tornado protection,Tornados aren't exactly rare there [as some will attest]It's like they figure the last tornado was the last ever or they just forget (susp) skrt .
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: hungryjohn on March 29, 2011, 12:55:54 AM
It's all just a matter of cost shooter. Anything to make as much profit as possible.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: Watauga on March 29, 2011, 01:51:24 AM
I have noticed a lot of the old log Cabins have a story and a half type of design.
with sleeping lofts on the ends.
So digging the floor deeper would give more head room in a shorter cabin. [hmm]
(Perhaps the first American Geothermal heat system too by using the natural heating/Cooling from mother earth?) [hmm]
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: hungryjohn on March 29, 2011, 03:51:20 AM
Quote from: Watauga on March 29, 2011, 01:51:24 AM
I have noticed a lot of the old log Cabins have a story and a half type of design.
with sleeping lofts on the ends.
So digging the floor deeper would give more head room in a shorter cabin. [hmm]
(Perhaps the first American Geothermal heat system too by using the natural heating/Cooling from mother earth?) [hmm]

Very possible indeed. Especially if the builder had some experience as a carpenter before moving to (at that time) the frontier. A very good example of an early use of natural heating/cooling systems can actually be seen at the Mount Vernon estate. The rotunda just in side the entrance way is designed to work like a natural chimney controlled by adjustable vents. It can actually allow enough heated air to rise and escape quicklt enough to create a slight cooling breeze on the ground floor.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: crazell on March 29, 2011, 04:02:28 AM
preacher that is an excellent example. I've been there 2-3 times. i love that place. when were there, they had a living history event going on. showed how the regular army lived and what they had with them. they also had one going on about regular live was like in the early days.(not how ol George lived).  we spent 6 hours wandering around. i have a few souvenirs from around the estate. rock, leaves and lots of pics. when you mentioned the estate, it took me back.. thanks for that !!! flwa
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: ErikPrice1@msn.com on March 29, 2011, 04:31:56 AM
C'mon eveyone know's it's so you can shoot hntr and be protected, just look at what charles bronson did.  ROFL .Seriously probably 1 less logs to work, 2 could be from limited materials, 3 the cooler and warmer thing, and maybe the cabin is lower to the ground and is harder to see.
Title: Re: Log cabin construction
Post by: crazell on March 29, 2011, 05:13:46 AM
valid idea's Brokenhawk.....  flwa