ONE OF THREE Here in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia three housing styles dominated construction dominated construction. General classifications have been used calling them "Pioneer", "English" and "German". There were, of course, variations on the overall theme of housing and many combination of features from in other styles was common.
Contrary to much general opinion few log houses were found in any of the colonies. The first such dwellings were built by Swedes and Finns who settled in the New Jersey area. That was in 1638 and the log buildings did not become widely seen until the mid 18th Century when the Scots, driven westward into mountainous, heavily-forested areas by economic factors, used materials at hand to construct homes, farm buildings - even churches such as Tinkling Spring and Augusta Meeting houses in Augusta County. Both were originally log structures around 1740, as were new fortifications built in the wilderness to the west.. Augusta's "Ashley Manse", just across U,.S .Route 11, is a log structure with some later-era modifications.
The type of house called "Pioneer" is much the same as that called "Salt Box" in New England. In the deep south they are called "Cats Slide" and in the mountainous regions - "Dog Walk" houses. English settlers in Tidewater Virginia brought with them tradition of a sixteen foot square, single room dwelling with a door in the front and perhaps, one window. Oddly enough the first slaves brought to Virginia - African coastal dwellers built single room houses with fourteen or eighteen foot dimensions. A fire place was often added to one, a chimney for all-purpose family use. A loft was built in the roof area for sleeping. Subsequent improvements or changes called an "ell" added usually with a roof slanting downward from the main roof. In New England this new area often became a "Birthing Room". In the Shenandoah Valley it seems to have been more commonly called a "Keeping Room". It was also used for cooking, food preparation, as a store room or pantry for foodstuffs or for storage of supplies, seeds, and seasonal items.
Usually this simple type of home served the needs of the first generation but it time, as families grew larger a need for expansion was met simply by adding another house of the same type and leaving a space open or covered - between which became the "Cat Slide"or "Dog Walk" designations. The Lincoln Homestead in Rockingham County, Virginia is an example of the finer, larger, brick homes built in this manner... one room at first with a duplicate house erected next door as the fail grew and more room was needed.
A.L.M. February 26, 2005 [c450wds]
