The only tool a man actually needed to build a log house was an axe.
With an auger, an adze, a drawing knife, a froe and maul, a broadaxe, or
saw, he could build it more efficiently. Tools and building techniques
were passed down from generation to generation. One such technique
enabled a man to raise the walls higher than he could lift a log by
placing two logs at an angle against the wall to serve as a skid and
using forked sticks or ropes to guide the logs into place.
Another technique was splitting logs by standing them vertically between
scaffolding and sawing downward, lowering the scaffolding as the log was
cut.
[Illustration: 1. Sullivan House, near Mize, Smith County. Built
1810-20 by Tom Sullivan in “Sullivan’s Hollow.”
Present owner: Shep Sullivan]
[Illustration: 2. First sheriff’s office, Pike County. Built in 1815
by Laban Bacot.
Present owner: Mrs. Lloyd Hamilton]
[Illustration: 3. John Walters cabin, Rankin County, 1860s.
Present owner: James Huff]
[Illustration: 4. Tool shed, Walthall County.
Present owner: George Wingo]
[Illustration: 5. Blacksmith shop, Lake Bounds, Clarke County, ca.
1900.
Present owner: Mrs. Gertrude Gatlin]
[Illustration: 6. Jonathan Ainsworth house, near Harrisville,
Simpson County, ca. 1860-70.
Present owner: Miss Gertie Ainsworth]
[Illustration: 7. SADDLE NOTCH
Aunt Judy cabin, Wiggins, Stone County, ca. 1870. Present owner: B.
C. Batson]
[Illustration: 8. V-NOTCH
Sullivan house, Smith County, ca. 1810-20. Present owner: Shep
Sullivan]
[Illustration: 9. HALF-DOVETAIL NOTCH
Wiley McNeill house, Clarke County, ca. 1820-30. Present owner:
Charles McGee]
[Illustration: 10. SQUARE NOTCH
Lang barn, near Shubuta, Clarke County. Built over an 1815-1830
dogtrot. Present owner: Mrs. Mildred Wilkins]
[Illustration: 11. HALF-SQUARED
Strong River farm house, Simpson County. Present owner: Mrs. Guy
Gillespie]
[Illustration: 12. SADDLE-V COMBINATION
Carter Place, George County, pre-Civil War. Present owners: Mr. and
Mrs. Bill Bailey]
[Illustration: 13. Heart pine section for foundation block. Wiley
McNeill house, Clarke County, ca. 1820-30. Present owner: Charles
McGee]
[Illustration: 14. Native sand rocks for foundation block. John A.
McLeod house, Forest County, 1920. Present owner: Mrs. Lida Rogers]
[Illustration: 15. Porch well. Sam Hosey house, near Moss, Jasper
County. Present owner: Ross Hosey]
[Illustration: 16. Bricks replaced mud-and-stick chimney in 1951.
The original foundation stones remain. Wiley McNeill house, Clarke
County.]
[Illustration: 17. Loft windows. Wiley McNeill house, Clarke County.
ca. 1820-30.]
[Illustration: 18. Shingle or board roof. Tool shed, Walthall
County.
Present owner: George Wingo]
[Illustration: 19. Window shutter. John Walters cabin, Rankin
County, 1860s.
Present owner: James Huff]
[Illustration: 20. Detached kitchen. David Bracey Ward house, Silver
Creek, Lawrence County.
Present owner: Mrs. Alma Hedgepeth]
[Illustration: 21. Jonathan Ainsworth house, near Harrisville,
Simpson County, ca. 1860-70.
Present owner: Miss Gertie Ainsworth]
[Illustration: 22. William Jackson Purvis house, Rankin County,
pre-1880.
Present owner: Hulan Purvis]
[Illustration: 23. Hulan Purvis house, Rankin County, 1910.
Present owner: Hulan Purvis]
[Illustration: 24. Sullivan house, near Mize, Smith County, 1810-20.
Present owner: Shep Sullivan]
[Illustration: 25. Press Bond house, Bond, Stone County, ca. 1870.
Present owner: Mrs. Mary Alice Coker]
[Illustration: 26. A non-dogtrot. Bob Goodloe house, Burns, Smith
County.
Present owner: Bob Goodloe]
[Illustration: 27. Parker “tent” (1880), oldest cabin on Salem
Church Campground, established in 1842.]
[Illustration: 28. Boykin Methodist Church, Smith County, 1858.]
[Illustration: 29. China Grove Methodist Church, Walthall County,
1854.]
[Illustration: 30. A-roof. Deen barn, Jefferson Davis County.]
[Illustration: 31. Lang barn, Clarke County. Built over an 1815-1830
dogtrot.]
[Illustration: 32. Log barn, Carter Place, George County.
Present owner: Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bailey]
[Illustration: 33. A decorative tree mobile]
[Illustration: 34. Bedsprings for a gate]
[Illustration: 35. Street light reflectors used as post covers to
prevent rotting]
[Illustration: 36. 7-up sign used for backsplash]