A Showcase For Cypress

A Showcase For Cypress. 'The Wood Eternal'. , Unlike the ultra-modern homes of steel, stone, and glass constructed for the Century of Progress, the Cypress Log Cabin provided a refreshing contrast in terms of the material it was constructed with and its rustic design. Sponsored by the Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association, the Cypress Log Cabin showcased "the many kinds and uses of cypress.” Known as "the wood eternal,” cypress is resistant to water and decay. Designed by Chicago architect Murray D. Hetherington, the house demonstrated the wood's durability and versatility, incorporating cypress siding, shakes, structural timbers, walls, flooring, window shades, and furnishings., The whimsical exhibit at the fair, which engaged visitors' imaginations, included fences, pergolas, and bridges accented with decorated cypress knees carved to resemble animal heads and fantasy creatures. The exhibit educated visitors about all the wonderful things that could be created from cypress, and promoted the use of the material on behalf of companies that sold it. Even the garden adjacent to the house served as a workshop to show people how to carve and build items out of cypress wood., The main lodge featured cypress artifacts, including a 150-year-old Seminole Indian canoe, a confessional grating from 1828 used in a Catholic church in Louisiana, and a 100,000-year-old piece of cypress found under a Philadelphia subway. A second structure with overhead doors provided a demonstration space for craftsmen making items out of cypress. That building became known as the Guest House when it was relocated to Beverly Shores., Ironically, the cabin was the only building used as a home at the Exposition. During both seasons of the Fair, Mr. and Mrs. B.R. Ellis from the Southern Cypress Association lived in the ell of the house, which contained the bedroom, hall, pantry, and bath.