Most any kind of logs can be used to build a house but the poplar trees made the best ones so say old timers. Harlan County pioneers could look at the bark on a tree and determine immediately if it would split straight or not.

When they built homes in the early days, they weren't so particular about cutting trees for logs but made sure that the moon was just right when they quartered logs for "roofing".

If the timber wasn't cut at the exact time, the boards "cupped up." The average log cabin consisted of one large room. Without the use of nails and very few tools, the old timer notched the ends of the logs and fitted them tightly together. If there were any cracks, a little clay dirt mixed with water was used to "dab them up."

The "roofing boards" were cut into four feet lengths and quatered after the bark was skinned off. Sometimes "shingles" were made from chestnut logs. To smooth the boards, a long knife with a curved blade and two handles were used. The worker pulled the blade toward his body along the edge of the board and worked out the rough spots.

Wooden Hinges Used

Most of the home-made doors swung outside of the cabin. It was held in place by wooden hinges. A hole bored through the log beside the door was used to fasten a chain through the door to the inside. Some of the better cabins had their doors swinging inside.

When the pioneer became ready to floor his cabin, he took his broad ax with a ten-inch blade into the hills to hue out logs. The flooring was called "puncheon." He hued out the logs to fit the floor of his cabin. One or, two "puncheons" were left loose so he could store his sweet potatoes in the cellar under the cabin.

The hearth where all the family food was prepared, was a big problem. Large flat rocks placed side by side, formed the hearth. The chimney was also made of rocks. Their only fuel in the early days was logs.

The "back log" was placed far back on the hearth and the "front stick" in the front part and the fire was made in the middle. It would take most of the day for the "back log" to burn.

Pot Swung Over Fire

A small crane fastened to the rocks inside the hearth could be swung back and forth away from the fire. On the end of the crane was a hook for holding cooking vessels. The pot was filled and places on the hook and swung over the fire.

For baking, the housewife pulled a few hot ashes out on the hearth and placed her baker (kettle) upon them and shoveled a few ashes on top of the baker.

"Some of the best biscuits i ever ate were cooked in a baker," an old timer said. "Of course the potatoes baked in the ashes were fine too," he added.

Many old timers went to bed at dark to save the light, or threw an extra batch of pine knots on the fire.

"The pine knots made an awfully good light, but they smoked pretty bad," an old timer recalled. Those who were pretty well off, had molds for six to eight candles while others made candles in molds of two and four.

Spoon Provides Light

Melted tallow was poured in the molds around a piece of twisted cotton. It was set aside for a few hours to harden. They always saved the drippings for more candles.

One of the earliest methods of producing light was from a spoon. Nearly always some of the clay mud between the logs around the fire place fell out. The handle of a spoon was placed between the logs and filled with "grease." A twisted piece of cotton was placed in the grease and it burned for an hour or two.

Instead of adding a room to the cabin, it was easier to build another one-room cabin a few feet from the first one and join the tops. The "in between room" was used to store saddles, meal barrels, molasses, meat and animal skins.

The meal barrels were made from hollowed out logs with a board fastened to one end. The 'soap trough" was also stored in the "in between room." most of the home-made soap was waxy and had to be kept in the trough made from a "scooped out" log.

Many old timers remember when they slept in between cabins on 'shuck beds," made of corn shucks.

"It wasn't so bad in the summer time, even if it was a little knotty," they said.

picture.....'TWAS HOME.....Although the cabin was six logs high, it was home. The site selected for this typical cabin is believed to be in Lynn Hollow. The large rock shown at the right protected the cabin from the wind and weather. It also served as a clothes line and a place to dry apples in the fall. Some of the family wash can also be seen hanging from the eaves of the house. A quilt or heavy clothing hung over the door in the winter kept out the rain and snow.

Sunday October 18, 1953

Volume 52 Number 243

Pages 1 & 5

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