The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 53, July 1949 - April, 1950 Page: 105
538 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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THE SOUTHWESTERN HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
VOL. LIII OCTOBER, 1949 No. 2
,o Cabihs 1 Zexas
SEYMOUR V. CONNOR
THE log cabin played an important role on the stage of
Texas history. It sheltered the beginnings of Anglo-Amer-
ican colonization and the seeds of Texas liberty. It was
the first school and the first church and a part of the first seat of
government of the Republic of Texas. Birthplace and only home
of thousands, it represented the first and most important work of
most of the pioneers. It was at once a promulgator and a reflector
of the pioneer spirit. In the architecture of the log cabin one can
find real evidence of the character, the personality, the experience,
and the ability of the early Texians. A knowledge of the homes
a people build and live in is among the most important factors
in the study of their history and culture. It is surprising that so
little has been done to preserve so considerable a part of the
story of Texas as the evanescent building practices of her pioneers.
The practice of building with logs was brought to Texas by
immigrants from the southern United States. While the Spanish
settlers did not build with logs either before or after the coming
of the Anglo-Americans, a number of the German immigrants
adopted the practice immediately. But in the main, log cabins
were built only by the Anglo-Americans; and conversely, Anglo-
Americans, in the main, built only of logs.
Log houses took the form of one-room cabins (with lean-tos)
and double log cabins (with lean-tos). As the double log cabin
was simply two one-room cabins under a single roof, the follow-
ing discussion will treat only of the practices involved in build-
ing a one-room cabin.
Constructing a log cabin could be as much or as little work as
a pioneer let it be. Unquestionably, many of the log cabins bore
a closer resemblance to a corn crib than to a house. Clearing the
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 53, July 1949 - April, 1950, periodical, 1950; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101126/m1/153/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.