A Historic Cabin

A rustic saltbox cabin adapted and restored sometime in the late 20th century.

There was a time in America where, unless you lived in a coastal city, you lived on the frontier. Far from the craftsmen and resources available in more urbane climes, the people who forged onward in Manifest Destiny had only themselves to rely on for housing. Thus was born the frontier cabin, in all its forms, as frontiersmen turned lumberjack, carpenter, and blacksmith all in one. All along the trails which wound ever deeper into the soon-to-be continental U.S. stood these homemade homes, becoming icons of the time and quintessential to any retelling of its glories.

Naturally, many have burned down, been pulled apart by storms, and razed in the advancement of suburbia, but if you go looking you might occasionally still find a curiously heavy-set house, perhaps covered in later siding, with lopsided rooflines and a foundation of local riverrock. Some have become museums, many remain in use as modest housing in particularly rural regions, and still more are simply abandoned out in the woods, home only to opossums and echoes. This one, though, has clearly been saved from apathy and anonymity, and, even as its former resident's well-intentioned updates have aged poorly, proudly bares its timeless timbers for all to see. Still, it's probably best for the attic to avoid prying eyes.

One bedroom (or two if you want to use the main cabin), one (slightly mildewy) bath. The 80s/90s reno of the rear rooms includes the bare necessities, but the cabin itself is unfurnished beyond that grand fireplace which surely came all the way from Boston by train, then horse carriage. Such luxury! Aside from advanced widget twiddling of the fireplace and ceiling beams, no silly build mode tricks or mods were used in this lot.

At just under $23,000, this one's a bit pricier than my other builds, and honestly it's still fairly meager. But you won't find a more historic home in Melino! Other than, y'know, the entire, like, castle and town square, I guess. How'd this American Frontier cabin wind up somewhere so European? By boat?