When the first European settlers came to Saline County in the 1850s and 1860s, lumber had to be brought from Nebraska City -- a trip that could take several weeks. So to build a home, early residents had two alternatives: dugouts or stone houses.
Fortunately for our pioneer ancestors, a vein of limestone ran near Pleasant Hill and Turkey Creek. Quarries and lime kilns could be found throughout the Pleasant Hill precinct, according to the Dorchester Centennial history publication. Some of these quarries, including the one at the present-day Joe Kubicek farm, operated until the mid-twentieth century, when they ceased to be financially viable.
The Sukraw house, Brown house, Pisar house and barn, Freude house and See house were prime examples of this early architecture, which was as practical as it was sturdy.
A map of the stone home locations can be found on page 198 of the Dorchester Centennial history book. We encourage Times readers to explore the living history and heritage of their home area. (Editors Note: Please respect the rights of private property owners and do not trespass. Get permission if you wish to see one of these structures up close.)
Great history here. Good work.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo's of the old homes. I have always wanted to do a series of photographs of abandoned homes. I came across your site on the Bloggers Choice Awards. You can add a brag badge to your blog so that you can collect more votes. The code is on the same page that people can go to Vote For This Site!.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Saul. We appreciate the compliments.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, Tom, we did not nominate our own Web site for that award, either.
Hey saul
ReplyDeletei know of an old school that you could photograph. Better hurry before it is torn down.
Note to readers: Please keep comments relevant to the subject matter of the story.
ReplyDeleteComments that are not germane to the orignial post may not be published in the future.
Thank you.
Well, this comment may not be completely "germane", but it does make one point I was trying to make about the school subject. Good construction lasts. The roofs may be long gone, and the families have gone to a better HOME, (I'm speaking of their heavenly one) but the main structure still stands. If they had been kept up, there is no reason those old stone structures could not have lasted hundreds of years.
ReplyDeleteTo Saul.........do that photo shoot! I would like to have some prints of the historic structures of Saline County.
By the way, my grandma was born in the log cabin at the Saline County Museum!!!
Preserve it while you can before the bulldozers show up!
JR Wolfe
PS Kudos on the website!