Last Updated on June 6, 2024 by Flavia Calina
Where is the oldest log cabin in the West? Well, it turns out to be a small unit, 16 feet by 22 feet to be exact, and still standing in Gloucester County. The structure was first built by immigrant settlers sometime in the middle of the 1600s. Later the cabin was expanded into a properly-sized home almost a century later, but the original cabin was kept standing. The addition added some 1,800 square feet, making the structure more of a proper home at the time. Some two centuries later, a machine shop was added to the property as well. Making it a bit of a small compound versus the small cabin home that started out.
Time Warp to 2024
Today, the property sits as a museum testament to early architecture, as well as being a snapshot of what daily life was possibly like in the 17th century. And for the property owner for decades, it was literally living in an actual museum of history. It’s also a physical example of how durable and long-lasting a well-built log cabin can be too.
Key aspects of the cabin part of the home continue to be the solid construction of the frame. The thick protection from the elements outside. The finished work of the interior walls, and the hearth literally ready to handle another warming fire for the winter. For a room that, by modern terms, is incredibly small. The cabin clearly would have made for very comfortable living in the mid-1600s, especially given how drafty structures were back then.
Have Your Own Cabin That Can Last a Century or Two
There’s no reason homebuyers today have to settle for suburban cookie-cutter homes. Instead, it’s quite possible to have a modern log cabin with today’s amenities included. You can have the best of both worlds with the durability and structural strength of a log cabin while enjoying the insulation, design, connections, and function of a modern home. Some of the most functional designs are available today from providers like Frontier Log Homes. These structures are ideal for either off-the-grid living as well as alternative old-fashioned home design, especially for those who are dedicated to custom-builds versus mass-produced homes. Log cabins also make great second homes or vacation properties. Especially when located in rural areas away from city congestion, an escape from the ongoing rat race in terms of simpler living.
Taking a lesson from history, definitely consider a log cabin home if looking for a change from the norm. They last for decades and, in the case of the example above, for centuries when maintained and cared for. Not many standard homebuilders can claim the same with their product, especially with today’s accelerated construction schedules.
Read more exciting articles on Today World Info
