Log Cabin Pioneers: Stories, Songs & Sayings

The back of the book includes a witty epigraph by none other than Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln notes "For those of you who like this kind of a book, this is that kind of book you will like." The tautology rings true! What kind of people might like this book? If you're interested in the history of log cabins, Erbsen provides an interesting historical context for these types of buildings. He cites current authorities in vernacular architecture and even critiques some of the myths of the log cabins. He replaces the inaccurate ideas about log cabins with good information about the cultural context that supported these constructions. There is good information about cabin-raisings, ways that musicians "fiddled up a cabin," and the various construction techniques used in a range of buildings. The book provides special attention to ways in which log buildings continue to provide important themes within old-time fiddle tunes, ballads, and bluegrass music. The book includes the words and music to a number of ballads and folksongs, and readers will also appreciate the way that Erbsen included mountaineers' proverbs, folk-speech, and even recipes. I also like the presentations of clever tall tales, legends, and other narratives that pertain to the life of those who lived in these types of houses. Even though Lincoln wasn't born in a log cabin that he built with his own two hands, the book does provide a good understanding of the types of cabins that Lincoln actually lived in. It even includes some of the actual ballads that he sung as a youngster. As Lincoln stated, this book will appeal to people who like this kind of book: namely, those with an interest in the folklore and history of rural America.

As one would expect from a Mel Bay book, Log Cabin Pioneers includes easy playing music for the amateur guitarist or pianist, or for not difficult playing on any treble clef instrument. Captured in less than a dozen measures, the accessible melodies have simple keys and no chord more difficult than a 7th. Several verse of lyrics accompany these songs. However, such music is just the songs of "Stories, Songs & Sayings." The text is strewn with colorful aphorisms from the pioneer period. Examples are "Better a lame donkey than no horse" from 1854 and the undated bit of meteorological advice, "don't stand in the sun if you have butter on your head." The stories come in two varieties. We get homesteaders' tales, like "The Shrinking Britches" and a swindle worthy of Huckleberry Finn, "What has 4 Eyes, 3 Heads, and 2 Tails?" But, we also get the stories of the songs and pioneers themselves. The stories of the people cover their fashion, building techniques and more - including methods to hide a still. Stories of the songs give the reader insight into the history and meaning behind "Darling Cory", "Mary of the Wild Moor" and more. All this material is arranged topically by section: Cabin History, Pioneer Construction, Log Cabin Music, Whiskey Making, Cabin Kids, Home & Cooking, Pioneer Beauty Secrets and Log Cabin Ghosts and Lore. More entertainment and information can be had in the pioneer slang glossary that defines such obscure archaisms as explatterate (to crush or mash) and "light and hitch" (come and visit).

In Log Cabin Pioneers: Stories, Songs & Sayings, author Wayne Erbsen takes the reading along on his personal journey of finding and restoring an historic log cabin. There the reader is treated to authentic pioneers yarns of such log cabine pioneer notables as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, as well as tales of bear hunting, moonshine, even advice on how to buy a mule! Then there are the songs sung by our pioneer forebears, and such pioneer staples as house raising, log hewing, husking bees, frontier remedies for ailments, superstitions, romantic advice, and an old-fashion barn dance. The entertaining and informative text is enhanced with 143 vintage photos, along with the words and music to nineteen pioneer era songs. Log Cabin Pioneers is a unique and wonderful addition to any personal, school, or community library American history collection.

I bought the book to help my 4th grader with a school project. I "censored" it a bit, as it does contain stories of moonshine, guns, and other such adult topics. But both my kids loved the funny stories and my daughter used a song from the book as a pioneer project. Everyone loved it, and the project was a snap. A really interesting and funny book.