Log Cabin

A Log Cabin is a sub-form of the log cabin and describes a simple, one to one and a half storey, built of simply processed logs wooden house. Log Cabins were built, especially during the development of the North American continent by European settlers first dwelling, as they were quick to erect. Therefore, the term is also symbolically linked with terms such as originality and daring in North America.

History and construction

The construction of the Log Cabins has its origins in Scandinavia and Central Europe. Especially the corner joints are crucial for the construction of wooden houses. In Europe, increasing over the centuries complex terminations and an extensive craft tradition had developed. European settlers from these regions were able to use this centuries-old tradition in the use of wood for houses and barns. Popular the construction was mainly in the north and in mountainous regions of North America where the winter conditions were often extreme because this construction a relatively good heat protection offered.

In the colonization of the land to the settlers was often very good building material available. They used wherever possible geradstämmige trees, as this amount of work was reduced in the construction of the cottage. The size of the Log Cabins was often limited by the stem length, even if it represented for more experienced people no limit. However, most settlers had no extensive experience as a carpenter and only relatively primitive tools. Gaps between the horizontal fallen trees were filled with stones, moss and clay. Very primitive Log Cabins had a ground. In most of Log Cabins, however, a wooden floor inside were built. These Log Cabins the corner joints were often placed on large stones. Was the Log Cabin relatively large, even stones found in other places in the first, lying horizontally log.

Normally, the settlers used the Log Cabin only during the first phase of the reclamation of their land. Frequently they built in the following years a larger house in the wood for use came, which was processed in a significantly stronger. The original log cabin was mostly used as a cattle shed or storage space.

Symbolism

Since the early 19th century, the Log Cabin is the symbol for a modest beginning. Seven of the U.S. president arrived in a Log Cabin for the world, including Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. Although William Henry Harrison was not born in a log cabin, he and his party, the first to use the term of the Log Cabin used during the election campaign in order symbolically to indicate that he was a man of the people. Other candidates attacked this theme in later campaigns.