Buchanan Log House

Log Restoration in Progress with a

Grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)

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The Buchanan Log House received a grant in 2022 to help preserve and protect the main log house structure on the property. 

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Sponsored by Cecilia Bradford Carroll Chapter of NSDAR, we received a DAR Preservation Grant to be used to clean, protect and replace damaged or rotting logs, clean and repoint the limestone chimneys and replace the mortar between the logs with a limestone mixture that would be closer to what was originally used in the 1800s.

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Work began in early September, focused on the logs to the left of the chimney in the original lower level of the house. Instead of finding damaged logs behind the wood coverings, an original door was found! It is believed that the door was likely placed there to make it easy to carry wood to the chimney hearth. The logs covering up the door still needed to be replaced but in the process we uncovered original dowels used in the construction, as well as how the chinking was done between logs. 

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Shards of limestone were used to fill up the space followed by a mortar mix of limestone dust, sand, and other material. As part of the restoration process, a similar limestone mix will be used. The proportions have been recommended by the Tennessee Historical Commission, which is a partner in this restoration project.

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Work is continuing through November 2022 to rechink the logs and sand and stain the inside to match the rest of the interior logs. 

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We are still needing to raise money to continuing to address preservation issues on the Buchanan Log House and other log structures on the property.

 

We have established our Preservation Partner level of giving. Your $250 donation will be earmarked specifically to be used for log preservation. Please consider donating to help us preserve this historic structure!