Monday, February 8, 2010

Hand Hewn Log Homes: Forefathers Necessity - Today's Rare Treasure

As I was filming video released by Honest Abe Log Homes on YouTube which focused on hand hewing, it occurred to me how today’s crafts were often necessities to our forefathers. Now, I realize this certainly wasn’t any ground breaking discovery. What really caught my attention is how valuable those rare crafts are. What was once a common necessity can be a treasure to us today.

Just down the road from our national headquarters in Moss, Tennessee, Mr. Willie McLerran continues to create his craft. Mr. McLerran is 90 years old, but still manages to weave baskets from white oak timber. He harvests the trees himself, and still does all the work involved with his craft. I would guess when he first learned how to hand weave baskets they were still a useful, everyday tool to many. He once filled a necessity of life, but now he creates a rare craft. His baskets are much less useful to our everyday lives, but I guarantee they are a priceless piece of history.

What does that have to do with log homes? Well, nothing directly. However, it seems the craft of hand hewing has a similar story. Hewing is an ancient practice. It was used to square, and fit timbers for construction. Hand hewing now isn’t seen as a necessity. We have machinery and mass production processes in place today which makes the fruit of the hand hewer’s labor impractical. Timbers are now cut and shaped with a variety of milling equipment. Who needs a log hewn by hand when Honest Abe can mill the same log time and time again?

Some people are just fine with a mass-produced basket from Wal-Mart that one-third of their neighbors also own. Others however, want something unique which tells a story. Some will pay a few dollars extra to buy Mr. McLerran’s basket which has its own special value.

Some people are just fine with our exceptionally milled log homes. They are beautiful just the way they are. Some are just as fine having their home hewn by machinery, although it leaves a distinct pattern that poorly represents hand hewing. Others however, want something unique which tells a story. Some will pay a few dollars extra to have their precisely milled Honest Abe logs and timbers chopped on by a craftsman. Not just anyone can pick up an adz and start hewing. It takes countless hours of hard work to learn to do well. Our craftsmen don’t just produce a product, they make art.

Want your log home to be truly unique? Talk to us about having your log home hand hewn. Better yet, come visit our headquarters, and see the process for yourself.

Joshua Beasley,
Honest Abe Log Homes

PS: If you come to visit, don’t forget to ask us where you can find Mr. McLerran. You shouldn’t leave Moss without a basket!