Nothnagle, C. A., Log House | |
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| Location | Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road, Gibbstown, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 39°49′5″N 75°15′59″W / 39.81806°N 75.26639°W |
| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | some parts 1638–1643; the remainder completed by 1685 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001153[1] |
| NJRHP No. | 1385[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1976 |
| Designated NJRHP | January 14, 1972 |
C. A. Nothnagle Log House, also known as Braman-Nothnagle Log House, is a historic house on Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road in Gibbstown, New Jersey and is one of the oldest log houses in the United States.[3][4]
The older part of the house was built sometime between 1638 and 1643 by Finnish or Swedish settlers in the colony of New Sweden, and Nordic ironware from the 1590s is still extant around the fireplace. The fireplace was probably built of bricks brought to America as ship's ballast.
The original cabin measures 16 by 22 feet, which indicates that the builders were relatively well off; an average-sized dwelling of the period was 12 by 12 feet. It is built of oak logs, and two logs were removable to provide ventilation in the summer. The logs were double dovetailed to provide a close fit, and gravel was pounded between the chinks in the logs. No nails were used in the original construction; hardwood pegs were used as fasteners. There is no ridgepole in the roof. People lived in this part of the house until 1918.[5]
A large addition was constructed in the early 18th century. A wooden floor was built over the original dirt floor around 1730. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is still privately owned. The cabin is opened for tours by appointment through owner Doris Rink, who resides in the adjoining structure.[5]
