Nothnagle, C. A., Log House

C. A. Nothnagle Log House (also known as Braman-Nothnagle Log House) is a historic house on Swedesboro-Paulsboro Road near Swedesboro in the Gibbstown section of Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. It is one of the oldest surviving log houses in the United States. The oldest part of the house was built sometime between 1638 and 1643 by Finnish settlers in the New Sweden colony, and Scandinavian ironware from the 1590s is still extant around the fireplace. The fireplace, probably built of bricks brought over to North America as ship's ballast, is asymmetric and placed in a corner of the cabin. 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. A large addition to the original cabin 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 the current owners, Harry and Doris Rink, who reside in the adjoining structure.