C. A. Nothnagle Log House

C. A. Nothnagle Log House, also known as Braman-Nothnagle Log House, is a historic house on Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road in Gibbstown, New Jersey and is one of the oldest log houses in the United States.^[3][4]

Nothnagle, C. A., Log House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
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Location	Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road, Gibbstown, New Jersey
Coordinates	39°49′5″N 75°15′59″W
Area	1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Built	some parts 1638–1643; the remainder completed by 1685
NRHP reference No.	76001153[1]
NJRHP No.	1385[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	April 23, 1976
Designated NJRHP	January 14, 1972

The older part of the house was built sometime between 1638 and 1643 by Finnish or Swedish settlers in the colony of New Sweden, and Nordic ironware from the 1590s is still extant around the fireplace. The fireplace was probably built of bricks brought to America as ship's ballast.

The original cabin measures 16 by 22 feet, which indicates that the builders were relatively well off; an average-sized dwelling of the period was 12 by 12 feet. It is built of oak logs, and two logs were removable to provide ventilation in the summer. The logs were double dovetailed to provide a close fit, and gravel was pounded between the chinks in the logs. No nails were used in the original construction; hardwood pegs were used as fasteners. There is no ridgepole in the roof. People lived in this part of the house until 1918.^[5]

A large addition was constructed in the early 18th century. A wooden floor was built over the original dirt floor around 1730. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is still privately owned. The cabin is opened for tours by appointment through owner Doris Rink, who resides in the adjoining structure.^[5]

Doris Rink sold the Log Cabin and adjoining property in 2024 to a real estate developer named Stephen Laszczyk who owns many properties in the area. Rink stated, "I want to get it into the hands of someone who is capable and loving and willing enough to put as much works into it as my husband and I have over the years," but efforts to sell to community organizations were unsuccessful.^[6]

See also

• List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
• List of the oldest buildings in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gloucester County, New Jersey

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Gloucester County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. April 1, 2010. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
3. "Nothnagle Log Cabin, Gibbstown". Art and Archtitecture of New Jersey. Richard Stokton College of New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
4. OLDEST - Log House in North America - Superlatives on Waymarking.com
5. Demasters, Karen (2000-04-23). "ON THE MAP; This Old House Is Really Old". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
6. Jacob, Mary K. (2024-08-16). "North America's apparent oldest home sells for $135K". Retrieved 2024-10-25.

External links

• Nothnagle Log Cabin