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Stories of the Road

Hiding in Plain Sight: uncovering a National Road log cabin

1/30/2015

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Picture
Family in front of Historic National Road home during the early 1900s.
By: Bob Hunt

Sometimes we see something many times, but don’t really know or appreciate what we are looking at. With all of the modern improvements that surround and engulf us in daily life, the past seems so very far away, almost like it never happened. Today, we know that the National Road was once but a rudimentary, rutted and difficult passage in the 1830’s, decades before trains crossed the State. We also know that early settlers lived a very Spartan and challenging life along the road, with virtually none of the comforts we take for granted today. Those early times, and original homes (at least along the National Road), are long gone. Even the simplest small dwelling back then could require herculean effort and sacrifice to build for those first inhabitants who wrested a life and living from recent wilderness. We know about all of this of course because of the stories in books, and can even “Google” stories and pictures from the internet as we whiz along in air-conditioned comfort with our cruise control on. As the landscape flies by, we might notice that some of the buildings seem a bit older than others, but for the most part, the long past first few years of the roads existence have been efficiently and inevitably erased forever from our vision and consciousness.

Literally millions of cars had driven past the modest old frame farmhouse on the Southside of the Indiana National Road in Cumberland over the years without their passengers ever guessing the secret it held. So long, and so well had the past been buried, that even the current owner of the property was unaware. There was literally nothing about this old farmhouse to differentiate it from the thousands of others that dot the road from Ohio to Illinois, until that fateful day in 2001.

On that day, a fire ravaged the old farmhouse. The entire second story of the structure was lost to the blaze before it was extinguished, with only a portion of main floor remaining. Within the smoking remnants however, was the remarkably intact, and well hidden original 170 year old core of the home, a one-room log cabin.

Property owners Ron Sanders and his Wife Jennye could have easily taken a few pictures at that point, saved a log or two, and then gone ahead and finished what the fire had started. Certainly no one would have ever questioned or blamed them for that decision. Conventional wisdom and logic would say it’s a shame, but, the thought of reviving such a fragile fragment of the long distant past was far too difficult, expensive and complicated to contemplate. But where ordinary people saw only a hopeless and irretrievable wreck, Ron and his family found the opportunity of a lifetime. They decided to bring back a stunning piece of Indiana National Road history, so long in plain sight, but hidden from view.

Ron credits that through thru prayer he felt God had a plan for him to preserve the historic structure, and so work began.  With the help of several family members including his sister Jeannette, and brother-in-law Wayne, the restoration and re-building took place. Ron’s step brother, Richard Harris completed the beautiful roof you see today. During re-building, the foundation was repaired, and chinking was completed. Authentic replacement period doors and windows were not simply found, but painstakingly hand fabricated in Ron’s restoration shop business (The Shambles) right on the grounds, just feet from the cabin. Ron had not only the will and desire to salvage and restore the long hidden cabin, he also possessed unique skills and experience from a lifetime of working to restore and build furniture which proved invaluable in the final stunning result you see today.   

More recently, Ron has learned interesting facts and clues about the cabin’s construction and who might have built it from a log cabin expert, Steven Lalioff. Lalioff shared that the structure has what is referred to as “Steeple Notch” construction to the top notches of the logs.  This method is usually associated with Germanic cultures, and its use had begun to fade by the mid-19th Century (1800’s).  The lower notches of the logs are referred to as “Half-Dovetail” notches.  This method was the most prominent notch method in used during the mid-19th Century to assemble log cabins.  The Half-Dovetail method was also the one most commonly used by those of British background.  Builders of this method generally came from the Carolinas and Kentucky.  In researching the Eastes family and related families members who owned the land in 1831, Ron found they did indeed originate from the Carolinas.  

Ron notes that most people today have romanticized notions about living in log cabins, possibly due to Hollywood nostalgia, or stories about Daniel Boone’s adventures in the wilderness.         

In fact, many folks living in that era would not have been very proud about such a home. They would have strived to replace or update it with a more modern abode as soon as possible, another reason they are so scarce today.  With this in mind, the builders would have logs hewed flat on the inside and outside, so the owner could place attractive siding on the outside and plaster on the inside as soon as funds became available.  While demolishing the surrounding home around the cabin core, several different layers of siding materials leading to the logs were removed.  It was suggested to Ron at one point that he might leave a section showing every layer as part of its history, however this was not practical. 

As Ron and his family restored the cabin structure, they discovered numerous fascinating artifacts in the surrounding grounds, dirt floor of the basement and within its structure dating across the entire existence of the home.  Coins were found at the front doorstep.  An amber beer bottle from the Terre Haute Brewing Company was unearthed.   Several “Bitters” (medicine) bottles were discovered hidden in various nooks and crannies in the attic and basement.  Even papers from a local school dating to the 1920’s turned up.

The precise date of construction and original occupancy of the log structure has been lost to the mists of time, however it’s believed the cabin may have been an early provision stop for stagecoaches and their passengers around the time the Road first opened in Cumberland, in the 1820’s.  Ron does know that in 1831 the property was owned by Jane Eastes and her husband, William Harvey.  Jane’s brother John Eastes was mentioned in Hancock County history as operating a grocery store in Western Sugar Creek Township on the National Road.  Although that tidbit of information isn’t precise in dating the structure, it’s a reasonable guess. John is also listed as a prominent early settler of the county and the first Trustee of Buckcreek Township of Hancock County.

Above is the earliest photo Ron has showing the structure after wood clapboard siding was applied to the log exterior, probably around 1900.  He arrived at this calculation using the birthdates of the younger people in the picture.  This is the Meyer family.  Henry Meyer is an individual who did major construction to the structure,  building it out in 1927 to what was then considered a modern home, and the general form it had just prior to the fire in 2001. 


Picture
2001 fire that reviled the existence of the hidden log cabin.
Picture
Cabin during restoration.
There is even a story that the famous evangelist and orator Henry Ward Beecher once stayed overnight in the cabin. Beecher was a preacher in Indianapolis, and later in Brooklyn, New York. He was an outspoken abolitionist and a brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the famous Story, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”  Beecher was a colorful orator and historical figure of considerable influence in early America.  John Brown, the radical Abolitionist upon receiving a shipment of Springfield rifles, reportedly called them “Beecher Bibles”, in reference to Beecher’s fiery sermons against slavery. A Beecher connection to the cabin is plausible, given that he would have been in the area when traveling to his family’s home in Cincinnati, and options for overnight housing would have been limited in those early days.                                           

Today, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of Ron and his family, the circa 1820’s cabin on the National Road in Cumberland is no longer hidden in plain sight, but once again fully revealed to modern travelers. The stone fireplace is beautifully restored and fully functional, and the cabin even features a modern heating and cooling system. A  comfortable shady porch complete with rocking chairs adorns the East, North, and South side, and an authentic cedar shake roof once again shelters the structure from weather. The best part is, you don’t have to “Google” a faded image from a computer of this wonderful piece of the past or read about it in a book to try and imagine early pioneer life on the Road, its right here in full life, for all to see, and experience.

If you drive by, the cabin is located just about a ½ mile East of the small town of Cumberland. on the Southside of the National Road. Ron and Jennye’s business, “The Shambles” furniture restoration is right next door, their home is also on the same lot.

Today, the cabin is available to be rented to small businesses as opposed to being used as a living quarters. Its unique appearance and charm make it an easy destination for customers and clients to spot. At the moment, it’s currently available, having been recently used as an office, photography studio, music store, and more.

If you would like to contact Ron for more information, he can be reached by cell phone at (317) 502-4050, or by email, at: sandfam@ameritech.net

Picture
Ron Sanders, Cabin today! Fully restored and available for rental.
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George's Greenfield Barbershop

1/20/2015

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Picture
Gooding Tavern, circa 1900. Southwest corner of State Road 9 and US 40 (Historic National Road). George Knox's Barbershop was located here.

 By: Bob Hunt,
After the war, George was looking for a place to settle down and call home. Despite growing up in the South, he found himself driving a horse and wagon for the Union Army as a Teamster during the conflict. By the end of the war, he had seen quite a bit of the country, and yearned to start a new life in the North, where he sensed there was greater opportunity for the future. But where to go? One local lore has it that during his travels, George met men who came from all over, but after knowing some soldiers from Indiana, he thought that they were some of the nicest fellows, and so decided to cast his lot there. He lived first briefly in Indianapolis, then helped to start a barbershop in Kokomo, before moving to Greenfield to start his own business. The bustling commerce and growth of communities along the National Road undoubtedly played a large role in his decision.

George had very limited means, and not unlike many of the time, he could neither read nor write much beyond his own name when he arrived in Greenfield. Nonetheless, he was very ambitious, and hopeful for the future. Despite humble origins and the devastations he had seen on the battlefront, George envisioned a great future for himself and his family. He believed that hard work and determination would be far more important for his future than current limitations, or the past. Had George been someone who relied on conventional wisdom, or lived his life according to expected social norms, he never would have come to Greenfield, or started his own business, but George was a different sort of man.

George started his business in an old tavern building right on the Historic National Road, near the intersection with today’s State Rd. 9, across from the courthouse. Today there is little documentation of how well George cut hair, or shaved his customers, however we do know that his barbershop in Greenfield was indeed a success. Although we can’t pinpoint all the reasons, we can infer that a significant factor was his personality. In an age before anyone could dream of Social Media, the neighborhood barbershop was the place for men to spread the news, rumors, and network, all mediated through the barber. By all accounts George had a way with people that led to success and influence throughout his life.

Although he never ran for any political office, George eventually became a formidable political force in Greenfield. So powerful was his network, and great his influence that he is credited with helping to get the very first Mayor elected when Greenfield became a city in 1876. This was no small task given that his chosen candidate was a political dark horse, who was initially not given much of a chance. George was determined that his candidate would carry the day however, because this person had done George a big favor, the only one in town willing to do so.

Of course, not all was serious business and politics in George’s barbershop. A large part of the social experience and appeal at barbershops of the day was a place to exchange jokes, tell stories and tall tales, and generally have a good time. George had a good friend who spent a lot of time at the barbershop, a young sign painter he called “Bud”. Bud’s Father had come home wounded from the war, both physically, and psychologically. He had provided a good living for his family before the war, but was never able to fully recover afterward, and the family’s finances spiraled steadily downward until they lost their home, and ended up in severe financial difficulties. George liked Bud, and gave him the opportunity to come into his shop and make pocket money painting shaving mugs for customers. At that time, each customer needed their own personalized shaving mug, to prevent the spread of skin diseases like “barbers itch”. Bud was a lot more than just a shaving mug and sign painter though. He had a real gift for telling stories and jokes, keeping the customers (and likely George) entertained for hours. During the times when there were no customers in the shop, Bud loved to make fun and imitate some of the more colorful local folk, making up outlandish stories and telling them in a voice that copied various dialects and mannerisms of their favorite customers. George would play along and pretend to interrogate Bud as to all the “facts” of his made-up stories, until they would tire of the game, or collapse in mutual laughter.

George’s accomplishments and influence in Greenfield were all the more remarkable, given that he frequently went strongly against the grain of popular public opinion and thought. More than just his relationship with Bud, George developed a reputation as a strong supporter of the disadvantaged, and the oppressed. In the years after the war, there were large numbers of African Americans attempting to migrate to northern states for a better life. Not infrequently trains would arrive in Greenfield with dozens of ex-slaves, who had boarded with almost no money, little food, and inadequate clothing, just hoping that they could find some opportunity in the North. George’s support for these travelers was well known, and when such trains arrived, word would quickly reach the barbershop that help was needed. George spent his own money, and also solicited the sympathies and support of other locals and businesses for his humanitarian missions. To say that his mission to help feed and clothe the traveling migrants on the train was unpopular in Greenfield is a huge understatement. One local grocery owner famously suffered a mysterious and devastating fire the very night after he provided free provisions to a large group that George was trying to help. Many others reportedly refused to get involved, based on threats and peer pressure.

George’s story didn’t end in Greenfield. Ever the forward looking and ambitious individual, he eventually left his Greenfield barbershop on the National Road for the big city of Indianapolis. There, he started an even larger and better barbershop, eventually owning an entire chain. In the process, he became very wealthy, and expanded the political influence and leadership he had first wielded in Greenfield on a much larger stage. In addition, he not only learned to read and write, but became so proficient and passionate about the power of the printed word, that he bought a newspaper, and turned it into a large regional publication with a national reputation and following.

Bud’s story didn’t end in Greenfield either. He eventually left George’s barbershop on the National Road to travel with a medicine show. His ability to entertain and attract potential customers with clever chalk drawings on the side of wagons, story-telling, and fiddle playing earned him the nickname of “The Hoosier Wizard” from his employer. He also enjoyed writing, and eventually found enough success that he was able to go back and re-purchase the Greenfield homestead on the National Road that his parents had lost to default years before. It would never be his primary residence, but forever a sanctuary and temporary respite from the pressures of life in Indianapolis, and the only property he ever owned. Bud was just his nickname of course. His Father named him after his most admired person, an early Governor of Indiana, James Whitcomb. Today, you probably know him better by his full given name, James Whitcomb Riley, the most celebrated and famous poet of the 19th Century in America.

As for George, his full name was George Knox. Knox was African American, and enslaved in Tennessee, until he was able to cross over the lines during the war and reach the Union side. There he found employment as a teamster until the end of the war. It was Knox’s wife who eventually taught him to read and write. In 1884 he moved to Indianapolis and opened the first of his eventual chain of barbershops. In 1892 he purchased the Indiana Freeman newspaper, the first illustrated newspaper in the country owned by an African American. Under his ownership and leadership, the paper went from a Democratic leaning publication to one that strongly supported and advocated Knox’s Republican causes. The paper under Knox achieved a national circulation and won critical acclaim for its stories and publications until its demise in the 1920’s. In his 1896 autobiography, published as a series of articles in the paper in 1896, George Knox advocated hard work and dedication as the way to achieve success. He became one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of his day in Indianapolis, and a leading figure in the Republican Party until his death in 1927.






Picture
George Knox, date unknown. A self made man.
Picture
"Bud"...James Whitcomb Riley, Circa 1870s.
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