Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Log Cabin

The old log cabin just off the Sligo Side Trail seems both a poignant symbol of the tough life a pioneer family must have had here, and a monument to their courage and effort.  I don't think many people ever see it, as it's not visible from the Bruce Trail, and is now hidden in the woods.  Here are a few pictures.

It appears that the cabin was covered in board siding at some point, with just a few boards left.

The front of the cabin faced north, to the right in the photo above.  It makes me wonder about what they would have had for windows.

It must have been a challenge putting together the corners in a time before power tools!  I'm guessing that this dates from the 1870's.  And look at the size of those logs!  The one on the bottom right is at least 18" wide.

Unfortunately the south side has partially collapsed.

Parts of the walls are still in quite good shape.  You can still see the adze marks on the logs.

So spare a thought this Christmas for the previous generations and the life they went through to build the world we enjoy today.  And for everyone for whom life is still a struggle.




13 comments:

  1. Even in a ruined form it is remarkable.

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  2. Your words ring so true, and I often wonder who lived once in an old house, a shed or a barn, were the animals on the lower floor, and families above? Wonderful photos today, and so apt for the season of festivity, as we enjoy a sound roof above, a warm floor below, food on the table, windows to view our lawns and gardens, and friends here to share so much. Greetings to you and yours,

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  3. It amazes me how people were able to do all the things necessary for living truly off the grid, and without the tools to make construction easy. Have a great Christmas out your way. - Margy

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  4. Why do there seem to be so many abandoned properties near you? People worked so hard to clear the land and build a cabin or house, and then they moved on?

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  5. Still beautiful , If it could only talk what stories it would have to tell ! Lovely photos , Windy sunny and mild here today and still snowless ! Thanks for sharing , Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas !

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  6. Love coming across old structures like that , great pictures.

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  7. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  8. I'm sure there are many stories to be told there in the log cabin. Great snowy pictures! Have a blessed Christmas weekend.

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  9. The dovetail joints on the cabin show real skill. Oh to be able to go back in time and see how they really lived.

    Season's Greetings Everyone!

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  10. Amazing building a cabin like that without modern tools. Great captures of whats left of the old cabin.
    My mom and step-dad built a small one room log cabin years ago. The cut down the trees, peeled them and did it all on there own. I'll have to dig out a picture of it.

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  11. Impressive construction at a time when things were built "by hand"! Have a Merry Christmas!!

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  12. Images of places like this are so interesting. One does wonder how they made it through the winters. That was a sturdy structure with the squared off logs. My north side of my house is always colder and I wonder why the door was on the north. Maybe the side was protected more and it didn't matter. I enjoyed the journey around the abandoned site.

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