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2 AHPP Seeks to identify, evaluate, register, and preserve Arkansas’s cultural resources, reflected in the built environment.

3 The National Register of Historic Places is the country's official list of historically significant sites worthy of preservation. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Official list of the country’s cultural and/or historic resources worthy of preservation Administered by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program for the National Park Service under the Secretary of the Interior

4 Something Important Happened There . . . .Little Rock Central High School

5 Someone Important Lived There . . . .Bill Clinton’s Boyhood Home, Hot Springs, AR

6 Archeological Significance . . .Parkin Site, Parkin, AR

7 Architectural Significance . . .Rosalie House (Queen Anne Style) Eureka Springs, AR

8 Arkansas Pioneers Homes and Ways of Life

9 AR Post was the first and most significant European establishment in AR. In the 1600’s, French settlers moved to Arkansas and founded a community called the AR Post. It also served as local government, military, and trade headquarters for the Spanish and eventually the U.S. French settlers traded with the Quapaw, Caddo, Osage, Chickasaw, and other tribes—glass, cloth, guns and knives for animal skins and hides.

10 In the early 1800s, something happened that changed America and Arkansas forever—for both white settlers and Native Americans. During the 1700s, this land had been claimed by Spain, then France. France sold this land to America in This land purchase was called the Louisiana Purchase. We had no idea what we had just bought. There were tales of blond, blue-eyed natives and beasts the size of dinosaurs. President Jefferson decided to send explorers out to explore this new land. You may have heard of Lewis and Clark who were sent into the northern region of the LA Purchase. But have you heard of William Dunbar and Dr. George Hunter? They explored the southern region of what is now Southern Arkansas and LA.

11 Once LAP lands opened up for settlement, people were ready to move West. Called pioneers. At this early stage in Arkansas settlement, there were no trains. Therefore, people had to move into the state on boats and in wagons. Travel was very difficult through many parts of Arkansas at this time, because there were few roads and lots of difficult terrain. After the Louisiana Purchase, people began settling in Arkansas in larger numbers.

12 What are some everyday necessities that pioneers couldn’t make or grow themselves once they arrived?Tools Guns Ammunition Salt and Spices Coffee Sugar Pots and Pans Few stores on the journey West. Hundreds of miles with no stores or hotels or restaurants at all. What did pioneers need to bring with them that they couldn’t buy on the journey? Or that they couldn’t make or grow once they got to their new home? (for instance, could make new furniture once they got to homestead, so would usually sell old furniture before leaving).

13 From Voices of Moccasin Creek by Tate PageThe route to Arkansas was usually a long, arduous trip. One family who moved to Arkansas right after the Civil War, the Page family, came from Mississippi. This picture shows their route to Pope County, near Dover, AR. The route they took was 360 miles from Herbert, MS to Shop Bluff in northern Pope County. It took them three months of travel to reach this spot in northern AR. (Voices of Moccasin Creek, 17-20).

14 Hard for us to imagine looking out over wilderness as far as the eye can see. Pioneers set out into the wilderness going 2 miles an hour pulling a heavy wagon--hoping for a new start on their own land. No stopping at Wal-Mart or Taco Bell like we can do when traveling today. When they arrived, they found a mostly untouched land. This means that they had to build their own homes from the materials they had at hand. What kind of building material was plentiful? Wood. However, they didn’t have sawmills or the ability to turn trees into lumber, so they had to use the logs themselves.

15 How did pioneers build a log house?It was very important to bring certain tools with them from the east – axes and saws – because building a log house was fundamental to survival in this new land. Sometimes there were neighbors to help, sometimes not. Some built house with round logs. However, that leaves larger spaces between logs, which let in rain and air. Most preferred squared off logs. Better to take bark off logs, because bark harbors insects, soaks up rain and encourages rot.

16 Step 1: Build a FoundationFrom Voices of Moccasin Creek by Tate Page It was important to build a strong foundation for a cabin to sit on before the work of putting together the building itself started. Some would use foundations like this, especially if their site was on a hilly bit of ground. Others would use rocks that were closer to the ground. Step 1: Build a Foundation

17 Step 2: Cut notches in round logsThe first step in building a log cabin required notches to be cut into the log. Step 2: Cut notches in round logs

18 Step 3: Scrape the log down to the depth of the notchesIn order to make the log square, you had to then scrape the log down to the depth of the notches. Step 3: Scrape the log down to the depth of the notches

19 Step 4: Make larger notches in the ends of logs & fit them togetherThen, make large notches in the ends of each log so that they can be fitted together. Step 4: Make larger notches in the ends of logs & fit them together

20 Dovetail When notching, it was important to dovetail the log. What was purpose of notching logs like this? So that rain water would slide off the log.

21 Step 5:Chink to fill the holes between logsCracks between logs filled in with extra bits of wood, then plaster applied. Step 5:Chink to fill the holes between logs

22 Step 6: Add plaster between logsPlaster made of mud or clay often mixed in with animal hair to make it thicker. Chinking or daub could be taken out in summer to let air inside house, and then added back in winter. Step 6: Add plaster between logs

23 Once walls are up, it’s time for roofOnce walls are up, it’s time for roof. Long ridgepole to go along center of roof, and then add rafters, then shingles or boards (usually handmade). Notice a doorway was cut and a door added. Step 7: Add a roof Illustration from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

24 Then would cut a hole in side of houseThen would cut a hole in side of house. On outside, make chimney with stones from a creek or some would make their own bricks. Illustration from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Step 8: Add a fireplace

25 Use boards to shore up the insideShore up inside with boards and you have fireplace. Illustration from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Use boards to shore up the inside

26 Most AR pioneers had a wooden rather than dirt floorMost AR pioneers had a wooden rather than dirt floor. Could use boards or half a log in two and line up the halved logs with cut side up. This is called puncheon floor. Step 9: Add a floor

27 Some log homes had no windowsSome log homes had no windows. Some had windows with a wooden shutter to let in light and air. Step 10: Cut Windows

28 Inside a Finished CabinFrom Voices of Moccasin Creek by Tate Page This is the house plan for the Scott Page home in Pope County, built by Scott Page and his family after settling in Leonard’s Valley near Moccasin Creek in 1868 – just after the Civil War. Notice that no one had their own room. Page says that the small room with a bed next to the lean-to kitchen was used mostly only in the summer, because it had no heat and was barely big enough for a full-size bed. Notice the “sparking room.” This was a room set aside for the privacy of young couples who were “courting” (or dating). (Page 28). Inside a Finished Cabin

29 Types of Log Houses Let’s talk about the different types of cabins pioneers would build.

30 Single-Pen Simon Sager Cabin, Siloam Springs, 1837This is a sturdy log cabin built by pioneer Simon Sager around 1830 in Siloam Springs. This is a single-pen home. A "pen" is another word for a room, and a single-pen cabin has only one room... Why would a pioneer built a house with just one room—even if the family had 6 or 7 people in it? As you have seen, it’s hard work to build a cabin by hand, especially if you have only a few tools and little help. Some pioneers didn’t even have nails, and had to use wooden pegs. Also, it’s easier to heat one room than many. This cabin was built by Simon Sager, a german immigrant from Leipzig, Germany who emigrated to the United States in He initially settled with a group of German immigrants in St. Louis and then eventually moved west to Arkansas. This house is considered the first permanent residence built in the area around Siloam Springs. (National Register Nomination) Single-Pen Simon Sager Cabin, Siloam Springs, 1837

31 Single-Pen Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850Parker-Hickman House built in the 1850 in Newton County. Another single-pen house. What’s different about it? Two stories. Lean-to shed built onto side. This house was built by William H. Parker in He bought the land just three years earlier, and eventually expended the farm to over 195 acres. Now, the farm is considered a historic district because of the large number of historic buildings on the property. Single-Pen Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850

32 Double-Pen May Farmstead, Newton County, 1880This house has two pens, each with its own door. What do you think this style of house is called? Double-pen. Features two joined pens with one or more chimneys located on the ends. This house was built in 1880 by Monroe and Ada May, who were born and raised in the area, and the children of previous pioneers. They raised four children in this house, and were active in the local community. This house was a single-pen cabin until sometime around 1914, when the second pen was added and the roof extended to cover both pens. (AHPP nomination form). Double-Pen May Farmstead, Newton County, 1880

33 Saddlebag Royston House, Washington, 1835Saddlebag—two pens with fireplace in middle that opens onto both rooms. Like a saddle with horn in the middle. Saddlebag Royston House, Washington, 1835

34 Plum Bayou house at Historic AR Museum in downtown LRPlum Bayou house at Historic AR Museum in downtown LR. Notice the two individual pens. The dog‑trot style features two pens separated by an open passageway, through which the family dog could trot! Here is the breezeway between the two pens. Why do you think that breezeway is there? It provided a cool space for the family to stay during the summer months – early form of air conditioning. This house was originally located near Scott, Arkansas and was moved to the Historic Arkansas Museum in the 1970’s. It’s now part of the exhibits at HAM and you can visit it during their open hours. Plum Bayou House, 1830

35 Dog-Trot Wolf House, Norfork, 1825This is another example of a dog-trot house. This one is two story instead of one story like the Plum Bayou house. This house was built by Major Jacob Wolf around 1825, in the earliest days of the Arkansas territory. It was the site of county government for Izard county. Jacob Wolf was the first postmaster in Izard county, and later went on to serve in the territorial assembly and the state legislature. (AHPP Nomination form). Dog-Trot Wolf House, Norfork, 1825

36 Other Buildings on Pioneer HomesteadsHouses weren’t the only buildings on pioneer farms, of course. Other buildings like barns, smokehouses, and privies were important to every day life on pioneer farms.

37 Scott Page Farm, Pope County, 1860’sThis is a drawing of a farm layout in the Ozarks in the 1860’s. Notice that there is much more than just the cabin here. In fact, the cabin is one of the smaller buildings on the farm. There was a barn, sheds, a dipping vat, a wagon shed, a smoke house, a spring house, a shop, stables, a gear shed, several paddocks or lots, a orchard and a garden. Scott Page Farm, Pope County, 1860’s

38 Barn where animals could liveBarn where animals could live. Anhalt family were German immigrants and built this barn in German style with brick foundation Anhalt Barn, New Blaine, 1878

39 Smokehouses Edward Ransom Farm, White County, 1915Used to preserve meat in time before refrigerators and freezers. Could smoke, dry or salt meat to preserve it. Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850

40 Chicken Houses Gailey Hollow Homestead, Benton County, 1910Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850 Gailey Hollow Homestead, Benton County, 1910 Chicken houses were built to keep chickens away from predators. You can see that they were built in a manner similar to smokehouses. Chicken Houses

41 Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850Corn Crib Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850 A corn crib was a place to store corn. Corn was an important crop, both for feeding the family and for feeding animals on the farm.

42 Could keep root vegetables like potatoes cool and dryCould keep root vegetables like potatoes cool and dry. Sometimes built above ground, Sometimes dug right into hillside – like this example. Root Cellar

43 Having fresh water close-by was essentialHaving fresh water close-by was essential. Sometimes wells had to be dug very deep in order to hit fresh water. Sometimes a pioneer would select a home site and build their house, only to find out that the closest place for a well was a long way away. Had to haul water to house for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, bathing. Some wells just had a piece of wood over them, like this one. Others had covers or buildings over them. Well

44 Carriage House Gailey Hollow Homestead, Benton County, 1910for buggy or wagon to keep it out of the elements. Carriage House Gailey Hollow Homestead, Benton County, 1910

45 Tool Shed Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, circa 1850Tool sheds were used to store tools and farm implements. Tool Shed Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, circa 1850

46 Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850 Does anyone know what these buildings are? They are privies, or outhouses. Some AR pioneers thought it was more sanitary to just go in the woods—most would have a privy. Some with two seats! Families usually had lots of kids who may need to go at the same time (left). Parker-Hickman Farm, Newtown County, 1850 Historic Arkansas Museum Little Rock

47 Life in a Pioneer Home

48 Pioneer homes usually very smallPioneer homes usually very small. House for 6 people might by 20 ft by 20 ft, with a loft. Not room for much furniture.

49 Boys could swim in creek—many girls were rarely ever submerged in water. Baths rare since water had to hauled in. Would wash hands, neck, arms every day at basin. A basin like this would likely be a family heirloom. This rural woman used a stone basin and dipper (right). Washing

50 Beds Frame made of ropes. Mattress would be placed on top. What do you think it would be filled with? Corn husks, feathers, straw.

51 Meals cooked over fire. Some kitchens detached from rest of house. WhyMeals cooked over fire. Some kitchens detached from rest of house. Why? So don’t catch rest of house on fire, heat entire house. Sometimes pots of food hung over fire, sometimes placed in coals with more coals placed on top of pot to cook top of food. Fireplace

52 Chores Women and Girls Men and Boys Cooked and preserved foodMilked cows Tended vegetable gardens Dyed and wove cloth Sewed and washed clothing Made quilts, soap and candles Practiced herbal medicine Men and Boys Tended crops Tending farm animals Repaired buildings and fences Harvested crops Hunted game Chopped wood Hauled water Typical chores—though some boys would do “girl” chores and vice versa. Chores

53 Making cloth and clothes was a big part of a girl or woman’s workMaking cloth and clothes was a big part of a girl or woman’s work. Carding wool……making yarn……then making cloth from the yarn. Then had to make the clothes from the cloth. You could buy cloth in country or general stores, but that was expensive for some families. Made quilts from bits of cloth. Could hang quilt-frame from ceiling to save space.

54 Washing Washing clothes in tubs was an all day task. Had to heat water, boil and wash clothes, then hang to dry. In winter, would have wet clothes hanging all around house. Were used to scrub the clothes. Stand behind the washboard and lean over the tub. Dip piece of clothing in tub to get it wet, rub soap on it, and then dip and scrub, dip and scrub.

55 Other chores that had to be done included: Making candles (no electricity and so had to light up the night somehow). Milked cow and churned butter. Most pioneers had vegetable garden. Enjoyed fresh veggie and salads in summer, would can and preserve for winter. They preserved their food in jars – canning. Maybe you’ve seen a family member do this today. I can jams and jellies every summer, even though I live in a house in the city.

56 Life wasn’t all work and no playLife wasn’t all work and no play. Children had to make their own toys out of the materials that they had available to them. Examples include the sling shot made with twine and leather, dolls made out of corn husks, a “bean flip” made out of wood and leather, and windmills made out of wood. From Voices of Moccasin Creek by Tate Page

57 New Year’s Day Easter Independence Day Camp Meetings Halloween Thanksgiving Christmas Work Frolics Weddings Funerals Pioneer life wasn’t all work! There were holidays. July 4 was a big holiday with games, fireworks, reading of Dec of Independence, picnic. Irish immigrants brought jack-o-lantern tradition over. In Ireland they used carved turnips. What vegetable was more plentiful here? Pumpkins! (see book called Celebrations in Pioneers folder for more info on holidays/work days)

58 Pioneer way of life in Arkansas lasted well into the 1900’s World War I and II, radio, roads all brought the modern world into Arkansas.

59 The Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View keeps pioneer ways of life and crafts alive. You can go and visit it anytime.

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