Mercer Log House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mercer Log House
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Front and southern side
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 41 N. 1st St., Fairborn, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1799 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000433 |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 1981 |
The Mercer Log House is a large log cabin located in Fairborn, Ohio. This historic home was built by the very first settlers of the area. It has changed very little since it was first built. Because of this, it is one of the best-preserved log cabins from Ohio's early settlement days. It is now recognized as an important historic site.
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Early Days in Fairborn
Long ago, the area where Fairborn now stands was home to a Native American village. In the 1790s, soldiers from Kentucky arrived and the village was no longer occupied. But the land did not stay empty for long.
The Mercer Family Arrives
By the late 1790s, a family named Mercer moved from Virginia. They came to the Northwest Territory, which was a huge area of land. The Mercers bought a large piece of land. This land included the spot where the Native American village had been. We don't know the exact date the Mercers arrived. However, we know they were growing crops in the area by 1799.
Life as Early Settlers
The Mercer family was one of the first families to settle near what is now Fairborn. By 1800, at least five families lived there. These early settlers were quite isolated. The only main road was between Dayton and Springfield. Other paths through the thick forest were hard to travel. The nearby Mad River could be used for small boats during spring floods.
More settlers began moving into the area by the 1810s. The town of Fairborn was officially planned in 1817. At that time, Robert Mercer owned the land where the log house stands.
Building the Log House
The Mercer family built their log cabin soon after they arrived. While the exact year is not certain, people believe the Mercer Log House was built in 1799.
Unique Design and Preservation
The house sits on a strong stone foundation. It is a great example of the simple, local building style from that time. It looks very square, with its height, length, and width being almost the same. It also has a large opening for a fireplace and smaller openings for windows.
What makes the Mercer Log House special is how well it has been kept. Many old log cabins in Ohio were changed over time. People would cut new openings in the walls to make them bigger. But the Mercer cabin's log walls are almost exactly as they were when first built. This makes it a rare and important example of early American homes.
Protecting History
In 1981, the Mercer Log House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic places in the United States. It was recognized for its unique and well-preserved architecture.
The Mercer Log House is one of three buildings in Fairborn on this special list. The others are the Fairborn Theatre (built in 1948) and the old Bath Township Consolidated School (built in 1924).
The city of Fairborn now owns the house. It is part of a small area called the Mercer-Smith Historical Park. This park helps to preserve and share the history of the area.
See also
- Log building
