Near Traphill in Wilkes County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
A Mountain Home
Keeping it Warm
— Blue Ridge Parkway —
Martin collected stone to first lay the foundation and to later build the chimneys. Next, he cut chestnut logs and hewed them by hand on two sides. Then he notched the ends. With help from his neighbors, Martin stacked the logs to form the walls. He chinked the logs with clay and covered the roof with oak shakes (wooden shingles) that he split with a froe.
Martin covered the logs with clapboard siding on the outside and paneling on the inside to help insulate the cabin from the bitter winds that are common here in the mountains. Martin took his own trees to a local saw mill and had them cut into boards for the floors, siding, and paneling.
Martin later added the shed addition—the second, smaller room. This room was divided into a kitchen with its own fireplace and a bedroom.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Blue Ridge Parkway series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 36° 25.134′ N, 81° 8.744′ W. Marker is near Traphill, North Carolina, in Wilkes County. Marker is on Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 239), on the left when traveling south. Marker is located at the Brinegar Cabin pull-out, along the path leading to the cabin, overlooking the cabin. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Traphill NC 28685, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Making Linsey-Woolsey (a few steps from this marker); Brinegar Cabin (a few steps from this marker); An Outdoor Pantry (within shouting distance of this marker); The Brinegar Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Making Shoes (within shouting distance of this marker); Mountain Spring (within shouting distance of this marker); Tillers of the Land - Then and Now (approx. 1˝ miles away); Robert Lee Doughton (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Traphill.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 201 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on December 8, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.