How 1800s Pioneers Turned Tree Stumps Into Cozy Homes Frontier Ingenuity at Its Finest
Imagine wandering through a dense, misty forest when you spot a cozy little home carved into the base of a towering tree stump. It sounds like something straight out of a fairytale, but in the rugged 1800s, it was everyday reality for some of America’s earliest settlers on the West Coast. Back then, before the lumber industry toppled millions of ancient giants, the forests were filled with trees so massive their trunks could measure 20 feet across or more. Once felled (a task so intense it could take a
Lennstrom house met its end in 1946, you can still marvel at an 18-foot stump house today at the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum nearby.
But stump houses weren’t just for surviving; they were for celebrating, too. In Calaveras, California, settlers turned a massive hollowed-out tree into a grand dance hall and hotel. Guests waltzed under twinkling candlelight and cedar boughs strung high above the forest floor. As one 1850s newspaper gushed, it was “romantic and beautiful beyond description” ( although the ladies did wish the stump-turned- dance floor had a little more bounce )!
month), these colossal stumps were too big, stubborn, and abundant to remove easily. Rather than blowing them up (though some tried with dynamite), the pioneers did what pioneers do best: They got scrappy. They turned the stumps into homes, post offices, barns, and even dance floors!
In a time when luxury was a warm fire and a sturdy roof (or stump) over your head, these quirky homes captured the best of pioneer spirit: grit, resourcefulness, and a little bit of magic. Next time you pass an ancient stump on a hike, imagine what stories it might hold. In the right hands and with a bit
One of the most legendary stump homes was the Lennstrom Stump House in Edgecomb, Washington. Crafted from a cedar stump 22 feet wide, it sheltered three adults and three children, proving that creativity could turn leftover lumber into a home. Though the original
of imagination, it might have been the coziest home on the frontier!
Patricia’s Care Chronicles A BASAL BATTLE BRAVELY WON
I noticed a bump on my lower right eyelid about two years ago. I went to my dermatologist, who said it could be basal cell carcinoma. He recommended I see Dr. Scott for a consultation. It took a while to get an appointment with him, but I’m so glad I did. He took his time with me, gave me a lot of details, and answered all my questions. There was nothing hurried about my appointment; everything was comfortable and relaxed. He explained the science behind vision and some of the issues involved to me, and I could tell he really dedicates himself to what he does. He also took a biopsy, which determined that the bump was indeed cancerous. He quickly scheduled me for a Mohs procedure, performed by a specialized dermatologist, which was combined with my reconstruction performed by Dr. Scott on the same day.
reconstructive surgery. I was surprised by how much I was treated like a “regular” surgical patient! I thought, “Oh, they’re really taking this seriously.” A few minutes later, I woke up from surgery and thought, “When did I go to sleep?” In the years since the surgery, I’ve gone to Dr. Scott for regular follow-ups. Every time, he checks both eyes to ensure that I hadn’t developed another carcinoma. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened, so I had my last scheduled follow-up in early July. Everything looks great! It’s clear that Dr. Scott loves what he does, exemplified by his bedside manner and how well he performs his procedures. Also, his staff is always smiling, happy, and very courteous. I’ve never felt rushed at his office. Whenever I share my surgery story with others, I recommend Dr. Scott to them!
–Patricia Hauber
First, I had the cancerous area and the surrounding tissue removed during the Mohs procedure. About an hour later, I went to the hospital for the
2 EyePlasticMD.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator