Our Mill-End House

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Building was begun immediately, weather or not. George and our 16-year-old son pounded nails and laid 2 X 4 bricks, the two younger boys sorted mill ends and handed up tools and did the "step and fetchit" chores necessary to construction. Even our eight-year-old daughter helped tote rocks for the foundation, while her 14-year-old sister and I did mess-hall duty and other chores as needed.

We were careful to stagger the joints of the "blocks" for maximum strength, and we're great believers in square corners and proper leveling. Nevertheless, the actual construction went swiftly. What took time was driving to the mill yards, stocking up with materials and hauling them back to our place (a round trip of 25 to 35 miles, depending on which mill George picked).

A few supplies other than mill ends also had to be rounded up. We managed to find a small number of wooden sash windows (not so easy in this aluminum-smitten world), and elected to buy one-inch stock for the upstairs floor and 2 X 10's for ceiling joists between stories. Except for a large amount of 16-penny nails and five rolls of roofing, these were the only items we purchased.

Almost before we knew it, we were ready to put on a roof. Its design was based on something called a "lion's arch". The gables were formed from 2 X 6 mill ends nailed end to end as in the rest of the house . . . only the second row was recessed two inches, the next another two inches, and so forth. Seen from the end of the house, the effect was something like steps (Fig. 2A). The ceiling joists were placed edgewise on the outside walls, and the 2 X 4 wall continued around them and upward for another foot and a half. Then we began on the 2 X 6 roof

We'd originally intended to stairstep the 2 X 6's until they met at the middle along a sturdy log ridgepole. Soon, however, advancing winter weather—and the decision of the largest mill yard to discontinue free access to mill ends—called for a revised roof design. We ended up enclosing the last 21 inches on either side of the ridgepole with 2 X 12's which connected the final row of 2 X 6's to the beam and completed the arch (Fig. 213). Then roofing paper was nailed right on the mill ends and up over the top, and the joints were sealed with tar. We're very happy with our modified gambrel roofline, a shape we like better than the conventional gable.

The downstairs floor was constructed just like the walls, except that we set the 2 X 4's edgewise. This is a time-consuming method and uses many nails, but it gives a sturdy result that looks like hardwood flooring (Fig. 3).

We were able to move into the first two-story module by December 17. What a great Christmas! Repeated snowstorms, thaws, rain and thunderous winds had made tent living somewhat tedious . . . and the 8' X 10' cabin had served its purpose well but was—to say the least—somewhat cozy. The first thing the children did in our new home was to stand in the middle of the room, arms outstretched, whirling around and exclaiming their joy at not running into anything.

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