18th Century Log Houses
Log houses were the most common form of homes on the Western Frontier in the United States during the late 18th and early '19th centuries. Materials were readily accessible as land was cleared. Log homes were simple four wall structures made of hewn logs joined together at the corners by notching. There are various forms of corner notching ranging from the simple saddle notch to more complex forms like dovetail and square notches. The Kennedy Log House has V notch hewn logs which is one of the most common forms used in Western Pennsylvania.
Chinking and Daubing
Once the logs were notched together at the corners there was still a
significant gap, horizontally between the logs on the four sides. To seal
in the gaps and weatherproof the cabins, settlers performed a task
called chinking and daubing. There are three parts to the process: first
gaps are filled with rigid pieces like wood or stone, next soft
packing is added which is usually moss and clay, and the final step is
to trowel in a layer of clay mixed with lime. This final step is known as
daubing. The chinking and daubing was the least stable part of cabin
construction and it needed to be continuously checked for cracks and
the
erosion.
Many early log houses were just one-story. These cabins sometimes
had second stories added on later in the 18th century and the beginning
of the 19th century. This is also when many two-story houses were
built. Houses were rarely divided into individual rooms and two-story
houses often had a simple loft for the second story.
Erected by Washington
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.
Location. 40° 10.25′ N, 80° 12.95′ W. Marker is in Washington, Pennsylvania, in Washington County. It is on Log Cabin Drive, on the right when traveling north. On the grounds of the Washington Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington PA 15301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Memorial Trail (here, next to this marker); Pancake (approx. Ύ mile away); Washington (approx. 0.8 miles away); 810 East Maiden Street (approx. 0.8 miles away); Community Honor Roll
Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,205 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 30, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
