C. A. Nothnagle Log House
Encyclopedia
C. A. Nothnagle Log House (also known as Braman-Nothnagle Log House) is a historic house on Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road in Gibbstown, New Jersey
, near Swedesboro
, that is one of the oldest surviving log houses in the United States.
The oldest part of the house was built around sometime between 1638 and 1643 by Finnish or Swedish settlers in the New Sweden
colony, and Scandinavian
ironware from the 1590s is still extant around the fireplace. The fireplace, probably built of bricks brought over to North America as ship's ballast
, is asymmetric and placed in a corner of the cabin.
The original cabin measures 16 by 22 feet, which indicates that the builders were relatively well off; an average sized dwelling of the period was 12 by 12 feet. It is built of oak
logs, and two logs were removable to provide ventilation in the summer. The logs were double dovetailed
to provide a close fit, and gravel was pounded between the chinks in the logs. No nails were used in the original construction; hardwood pegs were used as fasteners. There's no ridgepole used in the roof. People lived in this part of the house until 1918.
A large addition to the original cabin was constructed in the early 18th century. A wooden floor was built over the original dirt floor around 1730. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1976 and is still privately owned. The cabin is opened for tours by appointment through the current owners, Harry and Doris Rink, who reside in the adjoining structure.
Gibbstown, New Jersey
Gibbstown is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Greenwich Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,758.-Geography:Gibbstown is located at ....
, near Swedesboro
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
, that is one of the oldest surviving log houses in the United States.
The oldest part of the house was built around sometime between 1638 and 1643 by Finnish or Swedish settlers in the New Sweden
New Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
colony, and Scandinavian
Scandinavians
Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
ironware from the 1590s is still extant around the fireplace. The fireplace, probably built of bricks brought over to North America as ship's ballast
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
, is asymmetric and placed in a corner of the cabin.
The original cabin measures 16 by 22 feet, which indicates that the builders were relatively well off; an average sized dwelling of the period was 12 by 12 feet. It is built of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
logs, and two logs were removable to provide ventilation in the summer. The logs were double dovetailed
Dovetail joint
A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a joint technique most commonly used in woodworking joinery. Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart , the dovetail joint is commonly used to join the sides of a drawer to the front....
to provide a close fit, and gravel was pounded between the chinks in the logs. No nails were used in the original construction; hardwood pegs were used as fasteners. There's no ridgepole used in the roof. People lived in this part of the house until 1918.
A large addition to the original cabin was constructed in the early 18th century. A wooden floor was built over the original dirt floor around 1730. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1976 and is still privately owned. The cabin is opened for tours by appointment through the current owners, Harry and Doris Rink, who reside in the adjoining structure.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
- List of the oldest buildings in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Gloucester County, New Jersey