KENNAWAY CABINS

(Home on the Range)

Most of the families that lived in Kennaway built and lived in wooden cabins. Some of these structures remain today in various states of decay. They display differences in size and layout, presumably depending on the size of the family and estimated need of space.

Log Cabins

In the manufacture of log cabins in the early part of the Twentieth century in Ontario, there were several different ways one could connect the logs to make proper corners (see Pope 1985, Bibliography). One of these ways was called dovetailing, because of the odd shape the ends of the logs made when cut to form this type of connector. The ends of the logs would be cut with inverse notches , one on the top end and one on the bottom end of the log. In this way, it made the appearance of a large "wedge" shaped piece sticking point inwards into the end of the log. In stacking several logs to arrange the corner of two perpendicular walls, the grooves would fit together snugly to make a tight fit and create a strong corner.

Example of dovetail corner from the Kennaway Lake site.

Another method for creating corners of walls in log cabins was called "saddle-notching", and a space at the bottom of the ends of the logs would be cut away to form a crescent shaped depression. In this way, one log could rest snugly on top of the log (oriented perpendicularly to it), underneath it, the top end of the bottom log would not be cut. This would also create a snug fit to ensure a strong corner. A more complex way to design the connection between two walls of a log cabin would be to use a vertical corner post. In this method, all the logs of each wall ended at the same length, and a straight plank would be fastened to all the ends of the logs in a single wall. Placing two log walls perpendicular to each other, a ninety degree angle would be created in the space where the two planks would connect. In this space, a post would be placed vertically and nailed to the two planks. This would give the appearance of a long, vertical corner post at the connection points between the walls of the cabin.

All three forms of wall connections were used in Ontario log cabins around the turn of the century. Click here to see some types of corners.

Most of the cabins have one large, main room, and one or two smaller rooms which would have been the bedrooms. This central design would have helped in the heating of the structure in the cold winter months. With no electricity, heat (other than bundling up with sweaters and working) was provided by the family's wood burning stove like the one below, found "in situ" next to one of the cabins.

Woodburning stove (circa 1900)

Cabin sites being prepared for study:

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