A Double Pen Log House

Ross County, Ohio

Reportedly, this building stood in the Paint Creek valley between Chillicothe and Bainbridge; its precise location, alas, remains a mystery. During a telephone conversation, Donald Hutslar mentioned rumors of a double pen log house in the vicinity of Chillicothe; perhaps this is that structure.

Photos from Log Cabins & Castles: Virginia Settlers in Ohio, produced in 1991 by Ohio Landscape Productions; depicted is Hubert Wilhelm, formerly a professor of geography at Ohio University. Note the whitewashed interior logs.

In central Ross County, at least three other double pen homes survived into the 20th century: the 1828 McConnell residence (presently the Chillicothe Country Club), the now-abandoned Thomas House, and a Huntington Township dwelling (depicted in The Architecture of Migration) which burned in the 1930s.

Cutright Log House

Twin Township, Ross County, Ohio

A well-built log dwelling of average size (26' by 18'). About a year-and-a-half ago, I identified this building (then sided) as a possible log structure because of its proportions and fenestration; imagine my delight as I first glimpsed the home, stripped of siding, with logs exposed!

The 1860 map and 1875 atlas list Camden Cutright (1819–1896) as this farm's owner. Camden's father, John, was an early resident of Springfield Township, visiting Ross County with Nathaniel Massie in 1796. Whether Camden erected or purchased the log house is unknown.

Until recently, the log portion and addition were linked by an interesting late Victorian porch.

Standard steeple notching. Note the log damage, required to maintain flush siding, around the furring strips.

The fireplace opening (for an exterior chimney, now removed) is sealed with sandstone (?) blocks. Note the whitewashed logs. The plates overhang the walls, forming a box cornice; oddly, these plates do not rest on extended side logs, but appear to be mortised into side logs running above the plates. I don't know how common this variant is.