This week in History’s Attic we will explore the log homes on the Ponca Creek south of Gregory.

In this unique area the timber survived the huge prairie fires that ravaged the rest of the Rosebud country and had forced the settlers in many cases to build their first homes out of sod. Down in these draws there were virgin stands of Oak, Ash, Walnut, and Elm, perfect timber to fashion log homes. I was driving in that area one afternoon and saw an old house along a draw, so decided to walk over and examine it.

In the process of doing that I found some siding had fell off and under it was what looked like logs. Well, that set the wheels in motion, and I found the owner that graciously donated it to my cause. I hatched the plan to disassemble it and move it to Colome behind the church (see photo of the disassembly above).

In the process, I discovered each log had a number on it, which led me to believe the home was first built down where the timber was located then moved to its present location. The sides of the logs were hand hewn smooth on each side with the natural edges exposed approximately 10 inches wide. Whoever did this was experienced in log construction. Then between the logs were chunks of wood with chinking over it (chinking is a soft lime mortar that gives with the logs expansion). The cabin was sitting on 6 large rocks one at each corner and few in the middle. I would date its construction in the 1880s as they were there long before the homesteaders showed up, most likely squatters occupied them.

The homes when first built were just exposed logs, then I would guess later as the dwellers gathered money, they covered the outside with siding and plastered the inside. This was good for me as it preserved the logs. I know there are several of these houses in that area, so suspect the same person that built this one had a hand in building the others. I reassembled the logs in the exact order in Colome, and when I reached the top, I checked how level it was and it was no more than 3/8ths off around the entire top. Those pioneer builders knew what they were doing!!

The photo below shows the logs in the reassembly in the walls in Colome. I had a fellow stop one day he said he was born in this house, and he remembers as a kid the telephone guy came to put a phone in and had to drill a hole in the wall he said they could not figure what was in the wall that his bit was not near long enough. And yes, the hole is still there but filled in. I would guess there is quite a few other log homes in that area and the owners just do not know it.

Next week we are going to discuss a palace on the prairie near Lucas and a possible pivotal role it played in the Pick Sloan Dam Plan.

 

Author Richard Papousek