The "Lincoln Logs" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sliding photos of homes from iPhoto onto my desktop to add to my story today that is about one of the most fascinating types of construction, the log cabin.  Years ago Carol and I visited quite often with one of her high school friends and her husband, Betty Ann and Jay.  They lived near Martic Forge in southern Lancaster County where Carol and Betty Ann grew up and were high school friends.  Betty Ann and Jay lived in a log cabin.  Not an old or historic structure, but one that Jay constructed from logs that he had ordered from a log home builder.  Reminded me of when I was a kid and loved building with "Lincoln Logs."  Still have a can of "Lincoln Logs" that my grandson Caden and I used to build with when he was younger.  To tell you the truth, I still love to build with them.  The history of the log cabin in the United States dates back to the 1600s when settlers from northern Europe, specifically Sweden, constructed log cabins in Deleware.  The Homestead Act of 1862 contributed to the spread of log cabins in the United States, since this law offered 160 acres of land to settlers at a low cost to encourage development of westward lands.  

This log cabin is located at Whipple's
Dam park in State College.

The major building material at the time was trees and mud so log cabins offered quick shelter at a very little cost.  Some early American log cabins may have had a stone foundation, while other were built on a dirt foundation.  Materials such as mud, twigs, straw, moss and even manure were stuffed between the logs in a process called daubing.  This sealed the house to keep out the elements and rodents.  Notches of varying sizes were cut to fit the logs together at the corners, much like the "Lincoln Logs" that I have built with for years.  Some corners were made with what was known as "butt and pass", "dovetail", "saddle notch" or with the use of a corner post.  Some log cabins may have had plaster interior walls.   If you haven't figured it out yet why my play-time logs are called "Lincoln Logs," it's because Abraham Lincoln was raised in a log cabin.  Lancaster County has many homes that are constructed with logs and all have different looks and nuances to them.  Over the past few years I have been taking photos of log cabins in Lancaster as well as surrounding counties.  My photos will show you some of the differences in construction as well as tell you some history of the home, provided I was able to determine the history.  Check them out and see if you may have also visited or seen the homes I am posting.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This log cabin is along PA Rt. 41 and we pass it on our way to the Jersey Shore.  It tilts slightly, but not as much as this photo suggests.  The corners are round-notched.

This log cabin is located on the Fruitville Pike in Lancaster between Bent Creek Drive and Cheltenham Ct.   An addition to the original log cabin was added to the rear and right, but the integrity of the original log cabin was not changed.  The corners on this log cabin are of the dovetail variety.

This log cabin is located on Rt. 501 between Lancaster and Neffsville at 2257 Lititz Pike.  It was built in the early 1700s and was recently restored and sold to a new owner.  It illustrates the corner post structure on the top floor, which I believe was added at a later date, and square notched corners.  

This log cabin is part of a duplex that was built in 1794 by Captain Peter Ickes and is one of the oldest standing buildings in Abbottstown, located in Adam County, PA.  Log cabin is located on the Lincoln Highway (Rt. 30).  It features corners using the dovetail.

This log cabin with dovetail corners was the home of the Doan's Bones Restaurant until it was partially destroyed in an automobile crash and rebuilt as a concrete structure that resembles the original lag cabin.  It is located in Huntingdon County, PA. 

This log cabin is located close to the one pictured above.  It is considered the oldest home in Pine Grove Mills, PA.  It features  square beams and corners with square notches.  This home has a large amount of mud or mortar between the square logs.

This log cabin is located at 116 E. Main Street in Lititz, PA.  It was constructed in 1796 by a Mr. Philips and is part of the Moravian Church complex.  The corners of this cabin are also square notched and I'm sorry they are not shown.

Closeby the last property pictured above is the Albert Glatz's log cabin built in 1765.  It served as the tobacco shop in Lititz, PA for years.  As you can see, the corners are dovetailed.

This is a closer view of the log cabin shown in the story above which is located at Whipple's Dam in State College, PA.    This is a good example of the round-notched corners.

This log cabin is a one-and-a-half wood-beam structure built in 1762.  This log cabin is 14 feet by 14 feet and is located at 441 Mount Sidney Road.  It is in surprisingly good shape and is offered for sale to anyone who will make a reasonable offer.  You would have to move the cabin if you purchase it.  The corners of this log cabin are corner post construction.

The final log cabin features not only the cabins, but also my '87 Vette.  Photo taken in 1996 by my son Tad at the Valley Forge National Historic Park.  The cabins were used in the Revolutionary War.  They feature round logs notched and fitted at the corners.