One curious thing is how quickly W&D faded as a construction method over here - I assume mostly because especially in the East there was a *lot* of wood available, so what wood buildings we had were clapboarded fairly early. The homes I've seen up North *tend* towards clapboarded post and beam. Down South and along the Appalachians you get more square-cut log houses that eventually (mostly 19th c.) were covered over in clapboarding to look more civilized.
Also lots and lots of brick, way earlier than I had always assumed. But I guess it makes sense - Thomas Jefferson in his "Notes on the State of Virginia" was talking about how one of Europe's great advantages was a housing and public building stock of stone - it saved work as it didn't need constant rebuilding.
...and it's better protection from ravenous wolves I guess. ;)
I have to admit though - there's few things quite as cozy as a thatched wattle and daub house to while away an afternoon in. :)
Neat!
ReplyDeleteOne curious thing is how quickly W&D faded as a construction method over here - I assume mostly because especially in the East there was a *lot* of wood available, so what wood buildings we had were clapboarded fairly early. The homes I've seen up North *tend* towards clapboarded post and beam. Down South and along the Appalachians you get more square-cut log houses that eventually (mostly 19th c.) were covered over in clapboarding to look more civilized.
Also lots and lots of brick, way earlier than I had always assumed. But I guess it makes sense - Thomas Jefferson in his "Notes on the State of Virginia" was talking about how one of Europe's great advantages was a housing and public building stock of stone - it saved work as it didn't need constant rebuilding.
...and it's better protection from ravenous wolves I guess. ;)
I have to admit though - there's few things quite as cozy as a thatched wattle and daub house to while away an afternoon in. :)
I can see why log cabins became popular in America!
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