I remember when I was still a boy scout and my brother Bob who was one year older became an explorer scout. The reason for remembering this is that a family by the name of Waible had some number of acres of land that were just woodlands not too far out of Evansville Indiana, and they allowed to explorer post to build a cabin on this land.
I was disappointed that I wasn’t allowed in on this project, because I was one year too young to be an explorer. I did however get to observe the project as mom and dad would drive out to check on the progress and I would ride along.
To the best pf my memory, they cut down popular trees which grow very tall and straight for the material to build the log cabin. They researched how the pioneers built such cabins and followed those instructions. They did however use concrete blocks for the foundation which the early pioneers didn’t have. They did use modern doors and windows and roofing materials. They also used flooring wood for the floor of the cabin. I don’t remember what they used to caulk the gaps between the logs.
They finished it during the summer, then had a barbecue with all the families invited. I remember it was the first time i ever ate barbecued goat. It was delicious along with the baked beans, potato salad, and desserts. Since there was no heat in the cabin, after fall it wasn’t used through the winter.
For some reason, I have no memory of it being used by the post after that. But when I was about eighteen years old, I drove out there to take a look at it. To my amazement I found it to be a pile of rubble. It was some years later that I found out that popular trees make lousy building material as they quickly rot and fall apart when exposed to weather.
In spite of that i still remember how hard they worked and how excited they were when it was done. just another fond memory.
