Hello;
I have seen and recorded many, many, many E20C homesteads (At one time I was having a recurring nightmare I was stuck in a landscape composed of undulating mounds of broken container glass...) and I have encountered a similar type of foundation many times here in the Great Plains (utilizing Cottonwood). In fact I would say its fairly common in some contexts. The nomenclature would be a "sill-on-grade" foundation and it represents an expedient, low cost solution in semi-arid areas. Up here they are typically found on early twentieth century homestead structures, but more often with ancillaries and "claim shacks" rather than the primary residence. Expediency was key, as you had to show a "permament" improvement had been made to the property and reside there for 5-7 years to secure your homestead, and with prairie winds/storms tents do not represent a long term solution. There is a bit of a different pattern of architectural development within individual homesteads up here though, so it wouldn't be expected to commonly find one on a 3 bedroom frame residence. We this foundation most commonly occur in two temporal phases, the first homesteading booms which occured between 1880 - 1915, and the depression era "re-homesteading" of 1929 - 1935. In fact, we had a 1932 homestead much like yours in southeast Colorado where they used Ponderosa as the sill beams.
To the second question I wouldn't assume that the floor was not level while in use. The wieght of a building and people in it makes the moisture in the subsurface soil do funny things depending on the soil type. Most noticeably it tends to push mositure out laterally causing a localized deflation, and in some cases an inflation elsewhere throwing what was level out of level. Also, it would not be entirely neccesary to have a level floor in an ancillary building unless whatever is in it has the potential to spill or roll away. In some instances it is desirable to have a slight slope to aid in mositure transport (I don't think thats what's happening here, but it does happen).
Thats the best I can manage on-list, but fi you want to send me some photos I would be happy to take a look.
Sean Doyle
Historic Resources Specialist
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Denver, CO. 80021
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________________________________
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY on behalf of Cody Davis
Sent: Thu 8/2/2012 1:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Bois d'Arc Log Foundation
We are currently conducting excavations at a farmstead site here in North
Texas around a structure constructed around 1870. The structure associated
with this farmstead, was an ell-shaped 3 room house. It utilized bois
d'archalf notched logs as the beams for the foundation, and each log
was held at
the corners with a wood pin through the notches. the logs rest on bois
d'arcpiers, and it has a sandstone rock chimney, that was repaired in
the early
20th century with brick and eventually phased out for a gas stove. Resting
perpendicular to the logs, were joists that were nailed with square-cut
nails to the logs. Then tongue and grove floorboards were nailed to the
joists with square-cut nails. The structure itself was frame. As of right
now we are aware of a second structure that utilized a similar foundation
nearby, however they seem to be fairly unique. We were wondering if anyone
else has encountered this type of foundation before or maybe able to look
as some photos and provide insight.
We also had some general questions that pertain to this type foundation, we
were hoping some might have some insight on.
Would a frame house sitting on the above described foundation expected to
have a level foundation? This foundation drops 10 cm from the NE corner of
one room to the SE corner of the adjacent room. We have some ideas and
additional questions, and we would be happy to share some photos in a pdf,
off list with anyone who might have some insight into some of the questions
we have about the foundation. Thanks.
--
Cody S. Davis, RPA
Project Manager
AR Consultants, Inc.
805 Business Parkway
Richardson, TX 75081
214.368.0478 (office)
214.221.1519 (fax)
www.arc-digs.com
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