Log Cabin Cookhouse

In the past, a log cabin home was a pioneer family's first shelter. In time, as the family grew and prospered, a new home might be constructed. In this case, from the 1840s, the new home was a frame structure with wood siding. Our pioneers, being frugal, usually kept the old cabin and used it for other purposes. In this case, it is used as a cookhouse. The log chimney is interesting. You'd think a log chimney is a fire hazzard. But the split wood shell you can see serves as the support for a fire-hardened, mud-lined inner flue. This type of chimney construction was common in Jamestown, Plymouth, Quebec, Montreal and other settlements of the 17th century. Cooking could be a big job in the 17th and 18th centuries as families were usually large and additional hired hands might be needed at certain times of the year to care for livestock, clear land, tend fields and harvest crops. Almost everything in the kitchen was made fresh daily.
Ummm, I can almost smell the fresh bread baking!