Gathering of people specifically for the purpose of helping someone build a log house or barn; based upon Uplander tradition of cooperative work; also known as a "house or barn raising"

Through a building bee, a home could be raised and made habitable (although not completed) in one to three days, depending upon the size of the dwelling

Because Uplanders generally lived far apart, the building bee was also an important social event.  Hard work was accompanied by "a constant run of lively talk" among the builders, and large quantities of food were prepared by the women.  Sometimes parties were planned for the evening, with more food and drink served, and possibly a fiddler engaged.

CHOOSING AND PREPARING MATERIALS

When possible, the family for whom the house was being built prepared as many of the materials (logs, shingles, etc.) as possible before the building bee began and hauled them to the house site.

Approximately 40 logs were needed to build a single pen.

Hewing Logs

Log shapes:

Unhewn (fully round) – used more in outbuildings than in homes
Half round – rounded side faces outward
Rough hewn – two sides straightened; other two sides left rounded
Hewn half log – rounded side of half round log straightened
Squared – log dressed, i.e., cut, into square shape
Planked – relatively narrow sawn timber used for chinking and interior walls

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

Foundation:  the part of the building which touches the ground and supports the rest of the structure

Piers made of rock or rosin-treated wood served as foundation in areas lacking stone

RAISING THE WALLS

Required strength of oxen and numerous men and older boys who attended the Building Bee

To form the walls, notch the log ends, lay the notched logs horizontally in rows parallel to the ground, and connect the notches at the corners.  One log must be laid for all four walls and all the corners must be connected before the next row of logs can be started.

Notching:

Cornermen:  skilled axemen who chopped and chiseled the log ends into the appropriate notch shapes

Notching:  the art of connecting two logs with notched ends to form the corner of a building

Usually done on the ground before each log was raised and put into position in the wall.  Some fitting necessary after log was raised.

Notch shapes:  

		Saddle notch (Sketch) a notch placed near the end of a round log. The notch is a curved cut which resembles the seat of a saddle.
		Square notch (Sketch)  a notch placed near the end of a square hewn log.  To make the notch, square shaped pieces are removed from the top and bottom of the log's end, leaving a projecting square or rectangular shaped piece in the middle.
		Dovetail notch: (Sketch)  a notch placed at the end of a round or square hewn log.  In this notch, the log end has two flaring, wedge-shaped edges which resemble the shape of a dove's tail.
		Half-Dovetail notch (Sketch):  a notch whose log ends have only one flaring edge; the other edge is straight.

After the walls have reached full height, cut doors and windows into them and build the roof

Adding Chinking

In much of the South, mud or lime plaster was used as chinking

Chinking in Louisiana usually consisted of long planks (boards) made of split timber, placed on the interior walls.  This resulted in a more finished interior wall of horizontal paneling.

Usually done on ground as each log was raised and put into position. Some fitting necessary after log was raised

FINISHING THE ROOF

Gable roof covering house and gallery; covered by shingles, i.e., small, rectangular pieces cut from logs and laid in overlapping courses

In much of the South, mud or lime plaster was used as chinking

Chinking in Louisiana usually consisted of long planks (boards) made of split timber, placed on the interior walls.  This resulted in a more finished interior wall of horizontal paneling.

BUILDING THE HEARTH AND CHIMNEY

In Louisiana's hill parishes, the local ironstone was used for chimneys

In other parts of the state, mud-and-stick chimneys were the norm; these caught fire easily so were a hazard