Field Guide to the - Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail



Field Guide to the

Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail

This Field Guide to the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail enables students and educators, history buffs, historians, tourists, photographers, and others to visit and sometimes photograph some of our remaining log cabins and houses. Many are located in parks or on other public property. For purposes of the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail, “log cabin” is used generically to include all log buildings including log houses and other structures.

We especially encourage educators in Lehigh County and adjacent areas to make full use of the trail on field trips and in their classrooms. It is an important and fascinating new resource which teachers can use to expose students at all educational levels to log buildings and learn about the roles they played (and still play in some cases) in our history.

Log houses of the pre-Civil War era are one or two storied buildings, most often four-sided, that utilize an ancient European-based tradition of horizontal logs dressed or left in the round that appear one on top of the other. Distinctive corner notching of several kinds were used where logs of adjacent walls join, reflecting either specific cultural origins or origins of particular builders. In these houses are exhibited various floor plans that, in general, depend on their era of construction.

Log cabins and houses were among the first buildings constructed in the eighteenth century by European immigrants (especially Germans from about 1730 onward) arriving in what are now Lower and Upper Milford Townships, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Today most of these charming structures are gone. But a moderate number of authentic eighteenth and nineteenth century log structures remain in Lehigh County (nearly 100 now are known)—far more than the dozen known publicly when work began on this log cabin trail project in late May 2007. One reason that so many log buildings are preserved in Lehigh County is because many of these buildings were/are covered with siding which helped protect and preserve the logs.

These remaining buildings range in age from the 1734 Shelter House on South Mountain behind Emmaus to numerous log houses from the nineteenth century scattered throughout Lehigh County. Dates provided for some buildings included on the log cabin trail are estimates based on best available information and inspection of each building.

Some of the log buildings are owned, preserved, and maintained by non-profit organizations, others by municipalities, and still others by private persons. These surviving log buildings give us fascinating insights into how our ancestors lived. They also allow us better to appreciate our current life style, and compare it with the simpler ways people in Lehigh County lived in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

A building with a dagger (†) behind its name is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Log houses included on this tour, when marked with an asterisk (*), are privately owned and occupied. They are not open to the public, except once per year when some participate in an “Open House” celebration. Otherwise, they are accessible only as drive-by buildings. Please respect the privacy of the people living in these buildings. Do not park near, or walk on, the private property on which they are located.

The log buildings selected for inclusion on the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail are scattered widely throughout the county. This sometimes makes it awkward to travel from one building to another. Therefore, for the convenience of visitors driving to the various buildings, we divided the trail into three sections. Each contains its own driving route or loop. In a few cases, a driving route unavoidably passes a log building not included on the log cabin trail. Please pass by these privately owned buildings; do not disturb their owners.

The trail begins with the Southern Section, then moves north to the Central Section, continues into the Northern Section and the Blue Mountain (Kittatinny Ridge) forming the northern border of Lehigh County, then returns to three buildings in the northwestern part of the Central Section where the trail ends.

During part of the eighteenth century the Blue Mountain (Kittatinny Ridge) formed the northern edge of the American frontier. In several locations, from 1753-1763, settlers living on the “Frontier of America” in Pennsylvania were attacked by Native Americans resulting in some settlers being killed, tortured, and/or captured.

In 1755, for example, 56 settlers were killed and 10 taken prisoner by Native Americans in today’s Albany Township (Berks County), and Lynn and Heidelberg Townships (Lehigh County). The attacks were rooted in unfair land dealings perpetrated on the Native Americans by the sons of William Penn via the Walking Purchase (1736), land use conflicts during the French and Indian War (1753-1763), and incidents such as the refusal of one colonial settler to provide food for Native Americans needing provisions.

As a result of the hostilities, a series of forts were constructed approximately every 20 miles apart along the mountain between the Delaware River and the Susquehanna River to provide shelter and safety to frontier settlers in times of Native American unrest. Three of these forts were located within (or close to) Lehigh County—Fort Everett just south of the mountain in Lynn Township, Fort Franklin just north of the mountain in Schuylkill County, and Fort Lehigh overlooking the north entrance to Lehigh Gap in Carbon County.

Some parts of the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail, in the Central Section, are routed along part of our county’s delightful covered bridge tour which adds further historic charm and educational value as one explores the log cabin trail.

Finally, please keep in mind these cautions about photography. All log buildings on the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail located in public parks may be photographed on the outside as may all of our covered bridges. Privately owned buildings marked by an asterisk (*) as drive-by buildings, however, should not be photographed. Please respect the privacy of the people owning, and in some instances living in, these log structures!

Southern Section

STARTING POINT. The log cabin trail begins at Exit 60 of I-78 just south of Allentown and includes roughly the southern one-third of the county. It includes Lower Milford, Upper Saucon, and Upper Milford Townships, along with villages and towns including Limeport and Emmaus. The Southern Section has six log buildings included on the trail. They are the Carlin Log House in Limeport, the Miller Log House, Peter Rothenberger Log House, and Schubert-Graber Log Cabin all in Powder Valley, the Pennsylvania Avenue Log House in Emmaus, and charming Shelter House on South Mountain in Emmaus.

1. Carlin Log House (ca 1850)*. This full two story log building has a transom that may be original, full mortar chinking, and nine-over-six widow sashes. The logs of the building were treated for preservation purposes, as demonstrated by the shiny finish that’s visible on them. This is a drive-by site.

Access: 3687 Lanark Road, Coopersburg, PA. From Exit 60 of I-78 at the junction with US Route 309, just south of Allentown, drive 0.6 mile south to Center Valley Parkway. Turn right and continue for 0.2 mile to Lanark Road. Turn right and continue for 0.3 mile to the Carlin Log House on your right at the junction with Abbott St. and Lanark Road. (This building is located in Lanark despite its Coopersburg postal mailing address).

No Known References

2. Miller Log House (ca 18th century)*. This story-and-a-half log structure with wood chinking is a so-called “bank” building built into the side of a hill. It possibly had a central fireplace at one time. The floor joists on the rear of the building extend slightly suggesting a possible pent roof once was present but is no longer there. It’s a good example of how newer building additions to the original log part can convert a small log building into a lovely modern residence. Good landscaping nicely augments the external appearance. This is a drive-by site.

Access: 7028 Sell Road, Zionsville, PA. From the previous building, turn right onto Lanark Road and continue west a short distance to the junction of Lanark Road and Limeport Pike. Turn left onto Limeport Pike and continue for 8.4 miles to the village of Hosensack. Turn right onto Kings Highway and continue for 0.1 mile to Palm Road. Turn left onto Palm Road and continue 1.1 miles to Powder Valley Road. Turn right and continue on Powder Valley Road for 0.9 mile to Sell Road. Turn right onto Sell Road and look for to the Miller Log House high on the hillside on the left.

Selected Reference

Miller, Beulah Batman and Barbara Miller Heist

1976 The History of Powder Valley. Published privately, Powder Valley, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, PA

3. Peter Rothenberger Log House (ca 1830-1850)*. This charming stone ended, story-and-a-half log house is beautifully preserved and enhanced further by the wonderful landscaping around the building. Full mortar chinking is visible. The current front and side windows indicate possible taller original windows were used on the building. As with some other log buildings included on the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail, some newer additions were added to the original log house at a later date. This is a drive-by site.

Access: 6521 Crown Lane, Zionsville, PA. From the previous building continue ahead for 0.3 mile on Sell Road to its junction with Powder Valley Road. Turn left onto Powder Valley Road and continue for 0.2 mile to Woodlawn Drive. Turn right onto Woodlawn Drive and then almost immediately left onto Corning Road. Turn left onto Corning Road and continue for about 0.5 mile to Crown Lane. Turn right onto Crown Lane, and continue for about 0.1 mile to the Peter Rothenberger Log House set back among lush landscaping on the right.

No Known References

4. Schubert-Graber Log Cabin (ca late 1700s)*. The Schubert-Graber log cabin, along Power Valley Road, is thought to be the oldest building in Upper Milford Township. It is one of several remaining log buildings in the township. It is unique, however, because it is built on a stone foundation that’s dug into a hillside like a Pennsylvania “bank” barn. A mortar analysis indicates that the four walls were not built at the same time, but were built using various percentages of fine clay, lime, straw, wood shavings and crushed anthracite coal.

Unlike most other log cabins whose horizontal logs are stabilized by “V” notches in the corners, this building has a mortised vertical post in each corner. The horizontal logs have tenons which are fitted into the pockets and secured with a dowel driven through the mortise and tenon joint. Another unusual feature is the lack of evidence of either a stairway from the ground floor to the first floor, or a fireplace or chimney. Without heat or cooking facilities, this building may have been used for Schubert businesses which included a cooperage and later a wool business. The Hivel und Dahl (Hill and Dale) Preservation Society, Inc. is attempting to stabilize and preserve the structure. Contact the Hivel und Dahl (Hill and Dale) Preservation Society, Inc. (PO Box 416, Zionsville, PA 18068) for further details. This is a drive-by site. No parking is available.

Access: From the previous building return to, and then turn left onto, Powder Valley Road. Continue ahead for 0.6 mile to the Schubert-Graber Log Cabin (currently needing major restoration work) on the right. Please do not park on private property near the log cabin.

Selected References

Miller, Beulah Batman and Barbara Miller Heist

1976 The History of Powder Valley. Published privately, Powder Valley, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, PA

Mordaunt, Bruce

n. d. [No title. Unpublished report regarding history of Schubert-Graber Log Cabin]. Fogelsville, PA

5. Pennsylvania Avenue Log House (1798)*. This full two story log building is one of three remaining in the Borough of Emmaus. It has dovetail notching on the corners—a relatively unusual feature on remaining Lehigh County log buildings. Little information is available regarding its builder and history, but is claimed to date from the late eighteenth century although it may actually have been built in the early nineteenth century. The structure is now converted into an apartment building. This is a drive-by site.

Access: 1281 Pennsylvania Avenue, Emmaus, PA. From the previous building continue ahead on Powder Valley Road to the junction with Routes 29/100. Turn right and continue 4.0 miles into Emmaus to 10th St. Turn right and continue 0.1 mile to Pennsylvania Ave. Turn right and proceed 0.3 mile to the Pennsylvania Avenue Log House on your right (only the logs on the front first floor are exposed).

Selected Reference

Martin, Mrs. Frederick H. [Ester]

n. d. A 1976 Survey of Century-Old Houses of Emmaus. Privately published, Emmaus, PA

6. Shelter House† (1734). The Shelter House is an exceptionally well-preserved example of the European continental log house style, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It shows very nicely the evolution of a building’s expansion from one section into multiple (three) generation construction. The house predates the 1741 arrival of the Moravian faith to the Emmaus area, and is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited structure in Lehigh County. Although Shelter House’s name originates from the German Zufluchtshaus, which means “a house or structure to which to flee,” there is no record of it ever having been used as a refuge from an attack.

Tours are available by appointment with the caretaker-in-residence. Contact the Shelter House Society, PO Box 254, Emmaus, PA 18049. Telephone (610) 965-9258. In addition, open houses and tours are held each year on Emmaus Heritage Days and the first weekend of December. You may walk around the property and take photographs of the exterior of the building, but please respect the privacy of the caretaker and his family who live in the structure.

Access: 601 South Fourth Street, Emmaus, PA. From the previous building return to Pennsylvania Ave. (which eventually becomes Broad St.) and continue ahead 1.0 mile to 4th St. Turn right and continue to a T at Fairview St. Turn left at the T, continue to the end, then turn right beside a recreation field to the Shelter House sign ahead of you. Turn left at the sign into the narrow driveway and continue to the small parking area.

Selected References

Bergstresser, Jennifer

2006 Experience Emmaus Community Guide 2007. Benchmark Group Media, Inc., Bethlehem, PA

Bortz, Dean

1983 Shelter House. The Hearthstone, pages 20-23.

2002 The Shelter House as a Continental Log House. The Hearthstone, pages 15-17.

2003 The Shelter House History. The Hearthstone, pages 6-26.

Kaufman, David B.

1974 Some Facts about the Shelter House and Emmaus. The Hearthstone, pages 18-23.

Noble, Timothy

1983 An Artifactual Analysis of the Shelter House. The Hearthstone, pages 23-30.

Central Section

This section of the log cabin trail includes the City of Allentown, Lower Macungie, North Whitehall, Lowhill, and Weisenberg townships, and villages and towns including Breinigsville, Wescosville, and Schnecksville. The Central Section has nine log buildings included on the trail. They are Hunter’s Cabin in Little Lehigh Parkway in Allentown, the Henry Bortz Log House at Wescosville, the Lynford Lardner Log Cabin in Trexler Park in Allentown, the Balliet Log House in North Whitehall Township, the Schneck Log House in Schnecksville, and the Wright Log House in North Whitehall Township.

7. Hunter’s Cabin (ca 1739-1741). This representative Germanic log cabin was built in ca 1739-1741 by Abraham Kirper (or Carper) on land that that was bought in 1738. Later the cabin and 294 acres were acquired by Peter Bogert whose family owned the property for five generations. In the 1930s, Robert A. Young owned the land and had some restoration done to the clapboard-sided log cabin, and in 1938 additional restoration was completed by the Allentown Parks Department with the assistance of Allentown architects John K. Heyl and William D. Miller.

The cabin is a story-and-a-half “bank” house moved to its current location from a hilltop across 24th Street. It is believed the current compass orientation of the building is rotated 180 degrees from the original orientation—perhaps to provide a view of nearby Bogert’s Bridge from the cabin’s front porch. It is one of three log structures preserved in the City of Allentown’s park system (there are four within the City of Allentown). It rests in a lovely setting beside the 1841 Bogert’s Bridge† (one of the oldest remaining covered bridges in Lehigh County), in part of Allentown’s extensive park system, after being moved to its current location from a nearby hillside. Hunters Cabin contains two rooms, plus an overhead loft, and a basement. Visitors may walk around the cabin, and photograph its exterior, but it is not possible to go inside.

Access: From the previous building return via 4th St. for 0.6 mile to the Triangle in the center of Emmaus. Turn right onto Chestnut St. and continue ahead for 1.7 miles, past many automobile dealers and the South Mall (on the left) to a traffic light at Oxford Drive. Turn left onto Oxford Drive and continue ahead for 0.8 mile to the next traffic light (where Oxford Drive becomes 24th St. at Fish Hatchery Road). Turn right at the traffic light, continue around the barn, and park in a small parking lot beside the barn. Walk through adjacent Bogert’s covered bridge to Hunter’s Cabin on the left a few feet from the other end of the bridge.

Selected References

Anonymous

1938 An Object Lesson in History. Morning Call, August 13, 1938.

1962. Allentown’s Oldest House. Morning Call, May 6, 1962 [From Lehigh County Historical Society archives].

1979 [Photo of Hunter’s Cabin in Little Lehigh Parkway]. Proceedings Lehigh County Historical Society, 33: 53.

Kaufman, David B.

1981 Log Cabins—Their History and Description. The Hearthstone, pages 7-11.

8. Henry Bortz Log House (1792). Located along Rt. 222 (Hamilton Blvd.) in Wescosville, this story-and-a-half log house has exposed exterior logs on part of the building, and “shiplap” (clapboard) siding covering the logs on the remaining structure. The east end of the building is an 1815 addition, a post-and-beam brick filled structure under the shiplap. The siding was whitewashed each year before winter. In addition, the kitchen areas were also whitewashed to keep that area of the cabin clean.

Where the house now sits is not its original location. Previous to it being moved by the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society, to save it from being razed, it was located farther along the same road toward the intersection, which is where it had been moved about 1815 from yet another location! The building is owned by Lower Macungie Township, and maintained by the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society (PO Box 3722, Wescosville, PA 18106). You may walk around and photograph the exterior of the building, but it is not possible to go inside except during several special events held annually.

Access: 5047 Hamilton Blvd., Wescosville, PA. From the previous building return to the traffic light at Oxford Drive/24th St./Fish Hatchery Road, turn right onto 24th St. and continue north for 1.7 miles to the second traffic light and T at Hamilton St. (Rt. 222) in Allentown. Turn left onto Rt. 222 and continue for 2.6 miles, past Dorney Park/Whitewater Kingdom, to Kressler Rd. (at a bypass). Turn left onto Kressler Road, then immediately right onto Hamilton Blvd., and continue ahead for 0.5 miles to the Wescosville Recreation Center on the right. Turn into the center, park, and walk to the Bortz Log House.

Selected Reference

Bartholomew, Craig L. and Ann Bartholomew (Editors)

1996 A History of Lower Macungie Township. Second edition. Lower Macungie Township Historical Society, Wescosville, PA

9. Lynford Lardner Log Cabin (ca 1746-1750). Located in Trexler Park in west end of Allentown, the story-and-a-half Lynford Lardner log cabin was used in the early twentieth century by General Harry C. Trexler, a major local philanthropist, as a summer retreat on his Springhouse Farm (now Trexler Park). The General built substantial additions to the log structure but, in 1952, they were removed to restore the log building to its current, more historic appearance. The cabin has board-and-batten siding on the upper gable ends, early nine light (glass pane) sashes on the rear of the building, but six light sashes on the gable ends. The cabin is constructed over a spring which supplied drinking water to building’s occupants. You may walk around the building and photograph its exterior, but it is not possible to go inside.

Access: In Trexler Park, Allentown, PA. From the previous building turn left onto Route 222 (Hamilton Blvd.) and return for 2.0 miles to Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown. Look for the King George Inn at this intersection. Turn left onto Cedar Crest Blvd. and continue for 0.6 mile north to the traffic light at Broadway. Turn left onto Broadway and continue for 0.1 mile to the traffic light at Springhouse Road. Turn right and continue for 0.2 mile to the entrance to Trexler Park on the right. Enter and park, then walk left on the park’s loop road about a quarter mile to the Lynford Lardner Log Cabin.

Selected References

Anonymous

1954 [Photo of Lynford Lardner log cabin]. Proceedings Lehigh County Historical Society, 20: 149.

Benner, Nolan P. and Dick Cowen

1984 The General and His Captain. Chapter 7. Trexler Park and Springhouse. Proceedings Lehigh County Historical Society, 36: 40-43.

10. Balliet Log House (ca 1790-1820)*. This two story structure was probably built by Paul Balliet, son of Paulus Balliet. Paulus came to America in 1738 aboard the ship Robert and Alice, with the intention of operating an inn in what is now North Whitehall Township. The land was granted to him by Thomas and Richard Penn. Paulus died in 1777, and the land on which this house stands was willed to his son Paul, the other sons John and Stephen getting other parts of the estate. Paul married late in life, at age 50, in 1815. It is possible he built this house for his new bride.

The first floor window treatments are not original. In the 1960s the front door had been removed and a picture window installed across it and the original window opening. This has been partly restored. The other first floor windows had been enlarged at some point. The second floor windows are most likely the original treatment. The building’s sidewalls are longer than the width of the front wall.

The apparent age of the original part of the adjacent barn is 1840. Additions have been added onto either side of this center section. The nearby springhouse was in place by 1845. This is a drive-by site.

Access: The building’s location is 4458 Coffeetown Road, Schnecksville, PA. From the previous building return to Cedar Crest Blvd., turn left and continue north on Cedar Crest Blvd. for 2.9 miles miles to Iron Bridge Road. Turn left and continue for 0.7 mile to the stop sign at Guth’s covered bridge. Turn right, drive through the covered bridge, and continue ahead for 0.1 mile to River Road. Turn left and continue 0.8 mile to Wehr Mill Road (Wehr’s covered bridge is on the left). Turn right onto Wehr Mill Road and continue 0.1 mile to a T at Lime Kiln Road. Turn left and continue 0.6 mile to the traffic light at Route 309. Turn right and continue 0.4 mile to the traffic light at Kernsville Road. Turn left and continue 1.0 mile to Jordan Road (shortly after crossing a steel bridge). Turn right onto Jordan Road and continue 0.5 mile to the stop sign at Rex’s covered bridge ahead of you. Drive through the bridge and continue 1.0 mile to a stop sign and covered bridge tour sign. Take the right fork on Jordan Road and continue 1.2 mile to Orchard Road (the sign may be missing). Turn left onto Orchard Road and continue 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Rt. 309. Continue ahead 1.7 miles on Sand Spring Road to Coffeetown Road. Turn left and continue 0.5 mile to the Balliet Log House on the left.

Selected Reference

Kiernan, Charles B.

1990 Paulus Balliet Homestead. Proceedings Lehigh County Historical Society, 39: 203.

11. Schneck Log House (ca 1798). The Schneck Log House may date back to 1798. Tax records show a Schneck ancestor paid taxes on a log building of one story. Speculation is that the present building was modified at a later date, perhaps to provide more space for a younger son’s expanding family, or perhaps to be used as a home for the widow. The interior retains its original wide floorboards and an original wall along the present staircase. The fireplace is rebuilt from stone that had comprised the base of the original huge fireplace, and is very unusual in being located at the back of the building. Doors are of the period, and all windows are custom-made featuring old glass. A pent roof is present on the front of the building, and there is wood chinking. The property is home to several Eagle Scout projects: a pavilion sheltering a double butcher stove, a buried-barrel “refrigerator,” a large grape arbor, and a four-square German garden with simulated wellhead. The Schneck Log House is owned by the Upper Lehigh Historical Society (PO Box 255, Schnecksville, PA 18078). Visitors may walk around the building, but it is not possible to go inside.

Access: Located along PA Route 873 in Schnecksville. From the previous building, return to Rt. 309 in Schnecksville, turn right, and continue to the junction of Routes 309 and 873. Turn right onto Route 873 and continue 0.3 mile to a traffic light near McDonald’s on the left and STS Tire & Auto on the right. Turn right and go behind the tire store to the Schneck Log House.

No Known References

12. Wright Log House (19th century)*. This log house has two full stories with horizontal, shiplap siding on one gable end. Dovetail notching is used to join the ends of the logs together. The interior of the building has very low ceilings. This is a drive-by site.

Access: Located at 2579 Neffs Laurys Road, Schnecksville, PA. From the previous building, drive north on Route 873 for 0.8 mile to Neff’s Church (with a very tall steeple) on the left. At that dangerous intersection, continue straight ahead (not left around the front of the church) onto Neff’s Laury’s Road and continue for 1.9 miles to the Wright Log House on the left. This is a drive-by site.

No Known References

Northern Section

This portion of the log cabin trail includes the townships of Lynn, Heidelberg, and Washington, and various villages and towns including Wanamakers, New Tripoli, Slatedale, and Slatington. The Northern Section has seven log buildings included on the trail. They are the Ramaley Log House in Slatington, the German Log House in Slatedale, the Bellis Log House near Lehigh Furnace Gap in Washington Township, the Zeisloff Log House and rebuilt Fort Everett both in Ontelaunee Park in New Tripoli, the Stanley Log House along PA Route 143 in Lynn Township, and the historically important Frederick Leaser Log Cabin and related historic sites near Wanamakers in Lynn Township.

13. Remaley Log House (ca 1842)*. This two story log house, built by Charles Ramaley, apparently is the only log building remaining in Slatington. The current wavy chinking is not original. The six-over-six window sashes on the front of the building may be original. This is a drive-by site.

Access: This house is located at 1217 Main St., Slatington, PA near the top of the hill at the south end of town. Return to Route 873 and Neffs Church, turn right and drive north for 4.3 miles on Route 873 to the south end of Slatington where the building is located on the right amid dense vegetation.

Selected References

Anonymous

n. d. Slatington, Pennsylvania: A Tour of the Slatington National Register Historic District. Northern Lehigh Future Focus, Slatington, PA [A free self-guided tour brochure].

1976 Northern Lehigh Bicentennial Celebration May 14-24, 1976. Times News Printing, Lehighton, PA

History Committee Slatington 125 Celebration

1989 Slatington and Surrounding Communities: A Volume of History (1864- 1989). History Committee Slatington 125 Celebration, Slatington, PA

14. German Log House (ca 1840s)*. This two story log and stone building was the original house of Joseph German who built the structure. He was a farmer and land owner who sold part of his land late in the 1840s. The building is one of two log structures remaining in Slatedale, but the only one with logs exposed to the outside, which gives the building an especially charming appearance. This is a drive-by site.

Access: This log house, with a rustic log fence in front of the property, is located at 4219 Main St., Slatedale, PA. From the previous building in Slatington, continue north for 0.3 mile on Main St. to the traffic light at W. Church St. Turn left onto W. Church St. and continue for 1.6 miles through the village of Emerald to Main St. (Slatedale). Turn right onto Main St. and drive for 1.3 miles through most of Slatedale to the German Log House on the right. This is a drive-by site.

Selected References

Anonymous

n. d. Slatedale, Pennsylvania: A Historical Tour. Northern Lehigh Future Focus, Slatington, PA [A free self-guided tour brochure].

History Committee Slatington 125 Celebration

1989 Slatington and Surrounding Communities: A Volume of History (1864- 1989). History Committee Slatington 125 Celebration, Slatington, PA

15. Bellis Log House (ca 1750)*. This two story log building is one of the most northern log structures remaining in Lehigh County. The six-over-three window sash on the gable end is a unique size. At one time the building was named “Villa Maria,” but that name is no longer used. This is a drive-by site.

Access: 9073 Furnace Road, Slatington, PA. From the previous building, continue ahead for 0.8 mile on the same road to the intersection with Mountain Road. Turn left onto Mountain Road and continue for 0.4 mile to Furnace Road. Turn right onto Furnace Road and drive approximately 0.9 mile to the Bellis Log House directly adjacent to the road on the right side of the road.

Selected Reference

Anonymous

1976 Old Lehigh Furnace Cabin Now A Home. Northern Lehigh Bicentennial Celebration May 13-24, 1976. Times News Printing, Lehighton, PA

16. Zeisloff Log House (ca 1738-1748). George Zeisloff (who built this log house) and his brothers Balthazer and Nicholas, arrived in America from Germany on September 1, 1736. George and his family joined the Allemaengel Moravian Congregation on May 12, 1755. In 1756, most of the Zeisloff family was massacred by Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Only two sons survived.

This 18th century story-and-a-half log house was relocated from its original site about 1.5 miles away along Zeisloff Road, and reconstructed at its current location in Ontelaunee Park. The house originally was one and one-half story, and measured 22 by 32 feet.

The lower part of the roof is slightly kicked out to protect the wall logs beneath it. This might reflect some Swiss architectural influences. There is board-and-batten siding on the gable, and a pent roof at the bottom of the gable to protect logs beneath it. Logs extend slightly beyond the corners. The original fireplace lintel is used in the restored house. It is one log measuring 12 feet long and about 16 by 16 inches square. Many original stones also are used in the fireplace and the building’s foundation. In the rear wall of the fireplace is an opening through which hot coals were passed into the Stube or living room where a five plate cast iron stove was used to heat that room. Smoke from the stove passed through a small hole into the fireplace.

The stairway treads going to the attic are removable. This allowed occupants of the house to remove the steps as they retreated into the attic when raids by Native Americans were impending. There also was a small “loop hole” or peephole in the attic over the east door so occupants could remain alert for danger. The opening also could be used to sight a gun.

The house also contains a Salen Fenster, or soul window, in the bedroom’s west wall in the downstairs. This Kammer, or chamber, is where the older people slept and upon death the soul window is where the deceased person’s soul escaped to the outside through the hole. Younger family members slept in the attic. You may walk around this building and take photographs of its exterior. On special occasions each year, such as Pioneer Days during October and the Pioneer Christmas Open House, visitors may go inside the Zeisloff Log House and adjacent Fort Everett.

Access: From the previous house turn left onto Jones Road across from the Bellis Log House and continue for 1.0 mile to Mountain Road. Turn right and continue for 4.3 miles to Route 309. Carefully cross Route 309 (a dangerous intersection) and continue onto Mosserville Road for 1.7 miles to Route 143. Turn left onto Route 143 and drive 0.2 mile to the entrance to Ontelaunee Park on the right.Turn into the park and drive to the Zeisloff Log House and rebuilt Fort Everett Stockade. Park nearby, then walk to the buildings and enjoy these fascinating structures.

Selected References

Anonymous

n. d. 1740 Zeisloff Log House [brochure]. Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, New Tripoli, PA

n. d. Zeisloff Log House/Some Interesting Facts and Unique Features [handout information sheet]. Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, New Tripoli, PA

17. Fort Everett (ca 1756). This fort and its stockade wall, now (but not originally) adjacent to the Zeisloff Log House, is rebuilt with the intent of simulating the approximate appearance of the original fort that was located near the former American frontier along the base of the Blue Mountain or Kittatinny Ridge in colonial times. The fort was one of a series that were built during the period 1753-1758 along the south and north bases of the Blue Mountain (Kittatinny Ridge) between the Delaware River and the Susquehanna River. Benjamin Franklin was charged with the task of having the fortifications built, and he visited and inspected them. It took Franklin’s men approximately seven days to build the original fort.

The idea for reconstruction of Fort Everett began early in the 1960s when Boy Scout Troop 29 from New Tripoli constructed a replica of the fort and its stockade on a flatbed trailer for use in parades. Finally, in May 2006, after years of effort and fundraising, the reconstructed Fort Everett blockhouse was completed.

Access: The Zeisloff Log House and Fort Everett are located beside each other in Ontelaunee Park.

Selected References

Hunter, William A.

1960 Forts on the Pennsylvania Frontier, 1753-1758. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA

Montgomery, Thomas Lynch (Editor)

1916 Report of the Commission to Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania. Volumes 1 and 2. State Printer, Harrisburg, PA [Includes H. M. M. Richards “The Indian Forts of the Blue Mountain.”]

Nagle, Bob and Karen Rodenboch Rex

2006 Fort Everett Returns to Lynn Township. Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, 7 (3): 1-3.

Rex, Karen Rodenbach

2000 Fort Everett, Lynn Township, Lehigh. Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, 1 (2): 1-3.

Roberts, Charles Rhoads et al

1914 History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Its Families. Volume1. Lehigh Valley Publishing Company, Ltd., Allentown, PA

18. Stanley Log House (ca mid-1700s). This two story log house apparently predates the American Revolution. It is located near what once was the American frontier along the base of the Blue Mountain (Kittatinny Ridge) in Lynn Township. There was a central fireplace, and there is a Salen Fenster, or soul window, in the back of the building. Curiously, there is no back door which is unusual for a Germanic log building of this age and style (compare this building with the nearby Zeisloff Log House in Ontelaunee Park which has a back door, and a soul window on the front of the building). This is a drive-by site.

The nearby Class II Standard Pennsylvania Barn is unusual in having only one end wall extended forward to help support the forebay.

Access: 7593 Kings Highway (Route 143), New Tripoli, PA. From the previous buildings, leave Ontelaunee Park, turn left onto Rt. 143 and drive 1.2 miles to view this drive-by building on your right set back somewhat from the highway.

No Known References

19. Frederick Leaser Log Cabin† (ca pre-1755)*. The Frederick Leaser Log Cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In Revolutionary War times, Frederick Leaser was a Pennsylvania German farmer who helped to save the Liberty Bell (see Local Frederick Leaser Memorials section). The structure is a “bank” log building. Its north side appears to have two fairly distinct sections suggesting different construction times. The building currently needs major restoration work.

Access: 7654 Leaser Road, New Tripoli, PA. From the previous building, continue farther along Route 143 for 3.6 miles to the intersection of Route 143 and Leaser Road in the village of Wanamakers. Turn right (north) onto Leaser Road and continue for 0.9 mile to the log cabin on the left between a farm house and a barn. This is a drive-by building. Please do not stop or trespass on this private property.

Selected Reference

Weisenberg-Lowhill & Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Societies

2006 Images of America: Northwestern Lehigh County. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC. [Weisenberg-Lowhill Historical Society and Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society Book Committee]

Return to Central Section

The Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail now returns to the Central Section for visits to the final three log buildings on the trail—the Milot Log House and Adam Bear Log Cabin in Weisenberg Township, and the Kline Log Cabin near Breinigsville.

20. Milot Log House (ca 0000). The Milot Log House is a story-and-a-half bank building. There is (in 2008) some insect and rot damage on some of the logs (see section on this website for information pertaining to restoration, preservation, and maintenance of log buildings). This is a drive-by site.

Access: 2628 Boger Stadt Road, Fogelsville, PA. From the previous building, return to Route 143, turn left, and continue for 1.3 miles to the junction with Route 863. Turn right and continue for 9.0 miles to Seipstown Road. Turn left and continue 1.3 miles to Claussville Road. Continue on Claussville Road for 0.3 mile to Boger Stadt Road. Turn left and continue 0.3 miles to the Milot Log House on the left.

No Known References

21. Adam Bair Log Cabin (ca 1753). This cabin originally had a stone foundation and was constructed on the former Adam Bear property at the location now identified as 7872 George Road. In the 1788 Federal Tax List, this property’s characteristics were 200 acres, 2 horses, and 2 cattle. In 1789, this structure was identified as a one-story 28 feet x 22 feet log house.

The building was relocated in about 1977 directly beside of the Weisenberg Township building by the Northwestern Lehigh Jaycees from the George Road property to the Weisenberg Township property. During that move and reconstruction, very drastic modifications were made from the building’s earliest known version (a photograph). The current structure does not have a basement and is not nearly as high as the original building. Some of the original logs were badly deteriorated and discarded. Only good logs were utilized in the reconstruction. In the original version there was also wood chinking between the logs, but the current rebuilt version lacks that wood chinking. In addition, the original six-over-six windows on the original version are not present on the current building. Curiously, neither the original cabin nor the version now on the Log Cabin Trail, had a chimney. Therefore, we do not know how it was heated.

Access: The building is located at 2175 Seipstown Road. Fogelsville, PA. From the previous building, return to Claussville Road, turn right, go a short distance and turn left onto Short Road. Continue 0.1 mile to Seipstown Road, turn left and continue for 0.4 miles to the Weisenberg Township building on the left. Park and walk to the log cabin beside the township building.

Selected References

Haas, Arthur M.

1976 History of Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Weisenberg Township Bicentennial Historical Committee, Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County, PA

Weisenberg-Lowhill & Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Societies

2006 Images of America: Northwestern Lehigh County. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC. [Weisenberg-Lowhill Historical Society and Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society Book Committee]

22. Kline Log Cabin (ca 1752). This log cabin was a utility building in poor condition, originally located on the Kline farm between Shimerville and Vera Cruz in Upper Milford Township. It is an example of a log structure being relocated which saved it from complete loss. It 1989, it was moved to its current Weisenberg Township location by Richard L. Weiss. The building, however, is now drastically modified from its earliest known version. The original interior had a stone fireplace and blacksmith forge in one corner of the cabin, and there was a ground floor. The original cabin also did not have an overshoot. It measured 11 feet by 15 feet, and did not have an upstairs. The reconstructed version of the building now measures 16 feet by 20 feet. There is a pent roof on one gable but not on the opposite gable.

Access: 1885 Klines Mill Road, Breinigsville, PA. From the previous building, turn left onto Seipstown Road and continue south for 3.4 miles to Main St. in Fogelsville. Turn right and continue for 3.6 miles to Klines Mill Road. Turn left and continue for about 0.1 mile and look for this log building on the left set back in a field.

No Known References

Acknowledgments

All members of the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail Committee provided important advice and information essential to the research and development of the text included on this website. Donald Breininger and Reynold Reinert went far beyond the call of duty and identified numerous log buildings during the course of several field trips throughout Weisenberg and part of Lowhill Townships. Similarly, Richard Klase provided necessary information regarding the locations of a number of log buildings in the southern section of the log cabin trail. Greg Huber and Richard Klase also provided professional insights pertaining to dates of buildings, construction methods, and European origins of the original builders of some of the log structures. Sharon Haas and Charles Kiernan also provided information pertaining to log buildings with which they are involved. Steve Long and Bruce Mordaunt provided financial and other support for certain necessary tasks involved in the preparation of the trail. Steve Long and Noreen Yamamoto, both representing the Shelter House Society, also provided additional research assistance. Bruce Solt provided valuable information and assistance pertaining to Hunter’s Cabin. Willard Snyder provided important information pertaining to the Zeisloff Log House and rebuilt Fort Everett.

Very special appreciation is extended to retired architect John Heyl (now age 102 and living in Maine), formerly of Allentown, who kindly provided essential assistance and information regarding Hunter’s Cabin in Lehigh Parkway in Allentown, PA. Mr. Heyl was directly involved in the restoration of this log building in the late 1930s.

Appreciation is also extended to WLVT-TV PBS Channel 39 (Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton) for the special care and professional expertise they provided in filming and producing a special five minute segment about the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail for their “Tempo” television program, and for granting permission allowing inclusion of that segment on this website.

Eagle scout candidate Chris Jones, and several additional Boy Scouts he supervised, provided additional significant assistance by conducting interviews of the various building owners included on the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail, and helped refine directions to the various buildings, so that the website Chris designed and created for this project attained professional quality.

Finally, the Log Cabin Trail Committee extends sincere appreciation to each of the owners of the wonderful buildings included on the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail for agreeing to cooperate on this unique and pioneering project.

Lehigh County Log Cabin Committee Members

Donald Breininger, President, Weisenberg-Lowhill Historical Society

Sharon Hass, President Upper Lehigh Historical Society

Donald S. Heintzelman, Ornithologist, author, and originator of idea for log cabin trail

Charles Kiernan, Representative from Lower Macungie Township Historical Society

Richard Klase, Building restorer and stone mason

Christine Lazor, College instructor and resident of a log house

Steve Long, Board of Directors member of The Shelter House Society

Bruce Mordaunt, President, Hivel und Dahl Preservation Society; resident of a log house

Reynold Reinert, Administrator, Weisenberg Township and local historian

Willard A. Snyder, President, Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society

Bruce Solt, Superintendent, Bureau of Parks, Allentown, PA

Noreen Yamamoto, President, The Shelter House Society

Former Members of Lehigh County Log Cabin Committee

John Fasolka, Former Superintendent, Bureau of Parks, Allentown, PA

Greg Huber, Architectural historian; President, Past Perspectives

Eagle Scout Candidate Project Associate

Chris Jones, Boy Scout Troop 131, Wescosville, PA

Photographs by Donald S. Heintzelman, Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, and Lowhill-Weisenberg Historical Society.

Revised and updated version: 27 October 2008.

Website design and preparation by Chris Jones.

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In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

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