Log House
We relocated an authentic 1780's-era squared-log house from West Finley Township, PA, to the Wright House grounds in Venetia and are restoring it. It will be used as a teaching tool and a model of what we know to be typical of the family's second dwelling (after the first crude round-log cabin) which served them well from the late 18th century until 1816 when the current brick house was built.
In the late winter of 2002-3, the Peters Creek Historical Society was offered as a gift an ancient decaying log house which the owner
wished off his property in West Finley Township, Washington county, PA. If it could not be salvaged by the Society it would be destroyed by burning. Shown at right is the house as it appeared in the 1950's shortly after having been occupied by the last resident.
Research commissioned recently by PCHS dates the building to the late 1780-1800 period. At left is how it looked 50 years later in June of 2003 when we began dismantling the house. The original site was along a small creek interrupted in several places by beaver dams which rendered access difficult. After each of the logs had been labeled and cataloged, a local teamster with a team of draft horses was enlisted to skid the logs across the creek and floodplain to the narrow gravel road which borders the property. In early August the logs were loaded onto a special truck and transported to the PCHS site in Venetia, Peters Township, Washington County, PA.
In late August the re-erection began up behind the Wright House and by mid-November the building was under roof. Wherever possible the original logs have been re-used. A few replacements were necessary but were obtained from a stockpile of salvaged material of proper vintage from other dismantled buildings. A new cedar shake roof was installed because the original roof was virtually nonexistent.
Construction ended for the 2003 season in late November and the house was "sealed" for the winter. The term "sealed" is relative because no chinking had been installed so all the spaces between the logs were wide open.
In 2004 little progress was noted because of several factors including the illness of a critical member of the team, and the depletion of available funds. Although the entire project was spearheaded and heavily assisted by Society member-volunteers, it had been necessary to contract the teamster, the log transporter and the log house expert who had been signed on to handle the restoration in an authentic and correct manner.
By spring of 2005 conditions were ready for construction to resume. memorial Day weekend was scheduled to begin chinking the logs and complete the interior floor with original floorboards. It is hoped that all masonry and detail work can be completed by the end of the 2005 season.
The log house now includes the chinking, floors, hearth, fireplace and chimney. The doors and windows and their associated hand-made hardware are all there.We have taken great pains to obtain extensive expert research and advice in the undertaking of this restoration. The aim is to be as authentic and true to the 1780's period as possible.
We believe we can now tell and illustrate the only story of an early settler family and their times in the local area, their stages of housing, and their involvement in and contribution to westward expansion following the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars.
