Inside Log Cabins

Of course what was on the inside depended on how long it was up and what belongings the owners had. At first there were very few belongings. Most cabins started with a dirt floor. Later a wood floor was added. Sometimes the wood floor was raised. This had the advantage of being less friendly to insects. Little holes were cut into the wood walls to place pegs on which the pioneers could hang things. Often there were no nails or metal hooks available. Often there were no windows but if there were, shutters were made so that the window could be closed at night and as protection against weather and varmints. Pioneers did not have glass available at first for use in windows. Sometimes thin skins or paper was used to let in light, keep in heat, and keep out insects. Cracks in logs were stuffed with various fillings such as mud/dried grass mixture. The room was sometimes thatched with grass or shingled with wood shingles. Children often slept in a loft that they used a ladder to climb up into. Lighting at night was often absent except for a fireplace if the cabin even had one. The fireplace was often added later as it took quite a bit of labor and planning to create one. There was no electric lighting and many pioneers did not own an oil lamp. Candles were used if they had them. At first when it got dark people just went to bed. Running a fire in a close cabin could be a smoky and dangerous affair.