History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

HISTORY or NORTHAMPTON
Pirst Houses Built
CHAPTER I.
DWELLINGS—FURNITURE—COSTUMES.
No authentic description has been found of
of Logs. any dwelling-houses erected by the first settlers
of Northampton. Undoubtedly they
"were built of logs, though some may have been constructed
of plank. It is not probable, however, that the first comers
found time to split or rive plank or clapboards. The prac-
tice prevailing in other settlements was unquestionably followed
here. Each settler, intent upon obtaining shelter as
soon as possible, made use of the most available materials,
which were the trees growing upon the lot where the house
was to be placed. Nearly all of the logs were daubed or
plastered on the outside with clay, and the windows were
few and small.. Little better than huts, the pioneers managed
to live in these dwellings till they were able to build
better ones. Nearly all of the first houses were but a story
and a half high, and many of them had but one room on
the main floor. One plan sufficed for all.
Scarcc a generation passed, however, before
and Better Dwell- larger and better houses were erected. The
ings Erected. , ,
i n i p i
log house was superseded by a framed
More subst a n t i a 1
structure, covered with plank or clapboards. Nearly all of
them were placed broadside to the street, and close upon
its border. No use had then been discovered for sidewalks,
and the front door was literally the street-door, opening
directly upon the highway. Like their ruder predecessors,
these houses also were modeled after one design, their