Patrick Robert Sydnor Log Cabin facts for kids
|
Patrick Robert Sydnor Log Cabin
|
|
The Patrick Robert Sydnor Log Cabin
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | near Clarksville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | c. 1865 |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000896 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | August 30, 2007 |
The Patrick Robert "Parker" Sydnor Log Cabin is a special old building in Clarksville, Virginia. It was likely built around the time of the American Civil War, which was before 1865. This cabin is one and a half stories tall. It has a sloped roof and is made of logs. Inside, there's one main room with a sleeping area, called a loft, above it. It also has a chimney made of brick and stone. Near the cabin, there are also some older buildings from around 1930, like a shed, a chicken house, and an outhouse.
Contents
What Does the Cabin Look Like?
The cabin sits on a low foundation made of rough stones. Some parts of this foundation have sunk a little over time. The walls on the first floor are made of logs that fit together with V-shaped notches. The spaces between the logs, called chinking, are mostly still there and in good shape. You can see where some repairs have been made.
On the front (south) side of the cabin, there's a wooden door on the right and a window with six small panes of glass on the left. On the back (north) side, there's another door with six panels. The east side of the cabin has a window with six panes on the first floor. Right above it, in the pointed part of the roof called the gable, there's a smaller window with four panes. The wooden frames around all the windows and doors are simple. They look like they were added in the middle of the 1900s.
The chimney on the outside west wall is made of cut stones and fieldstones. It was repaired in the mid-1900s. The top part of the chimney is made of bricks. This brick part starts where the log wall meets the wooden siding at the bottom of the gable.
Inside the Cabin
Inside the main room on the first floor, there's a fireplace on the west side. This fireplace has a solid brick mantelpiece and a small brick firebox where fires were built. On the opposite side of the room, near the front door, there are two steps that lead up to a small landing. This is part of a special staircase called a dog-leg stair that goes up to the loft. The stairs have had some small repairs but are mostly still original.
The inside walls of the first floor look like they were updated, maybe in the 1960s. However, the walls in the loft area are still unfinished. The floorboards in the cabin have also been replaced. This likely happened in the early to mid-1900s. You can see the wooden beams that support the roof, and the roof itself is made of metal. In the gable ends, you can see the wooden studs and the inside of the outer wallboards.
Why is the Cabin Important?
The Sydnor log cabin is very important because of its connection to the history of African Americans in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It tells a story about slavery, the Civil War, and the time after, called Reconstruction. For many generations of African American families, from Reconstruction until the mid-1900s, this cabin was a significant "home place."
A New Home for Former Slaves
The land where the cabin sits was first sold in 1888 to Lovice "Vicey" Skipwith (1856–1936). She was a former slave from Prestwould Plantation. After the Civil War, many African American families in Mecklenburg County, and other parts of Virginia, became farmers. They often bought land on or near the very plantations where they had once been enslaved. Vicey Skipwith's purchase of this log cabin is a good example of this important time in history. The cabin became a home for several African American families in the Bluestone District of Mecklenburg County, including the family of Patrick Robert "Parker" Sydnor.
Who Was Parker Sydnor?
Parker Sydnor was a skilled stone carver. He lived in this log cabin during the 1930s and 1940s. He worked as a stone carver for over 40 years. Many African Americans in the area came to him to have gravestones made for their family members who had passed away. Parker Sydnor was special because he could read and write, and he was an expert at carving stone. He was also connected to many African American families, churches, and funeral homes in the Cabin Point area during the 1900s and early 2000s.
Even though Parker Sydnor and Vicey Skipwith knew each other from the Bluestone District, they were not related by blood. They were known as "fictive kin." This term means people who are not related by birth or marriage but have a very close, family-like relationship.
The Cabin's History with Prestwould Plantation
The Prestwould Plantation, which belonged to Sir Peyton Skipwith (1740–1805) and Lady Jean Skipwith (1748–1826), is famous for its history and architecture. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2007. A National Historic Landmark is a place recognized by the U.S. government for its important history.
Old maps show that the land where the Sydnor log cabin stands, about a mile from the main house of Prestwould, was once part of the original Prestwould estate. Prestwould's history began in 1708 when the main house was finished. Sir Peyton Skipwith expanded his land, showing his power and wealth. After Sir Peyton Skipwith died, the estate went to his oldest son, Humberston Skipwith. Later, Fulwar Skipwith inherited much of Prestwould in 1863.
However, during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War, Fulwar Skipwith faced money problems. He had to sell most of the land that belonged to the original estate. This time was very important because many African American families in Mecklenburg County were able to buy land. Small pieces of the plantation farmland were sold to both black and white individuals who had enough money.
According to the 1870 U.S. Census, Vicey Skipwith and six members of her family lived on the property as tenants. Since that time, when African Americans first started owning property, the log cabin has been a home for many African American families.
Images for kids
-
Parker Sydnor Highway Maker
