Little House On The Prairie
by Jon Burch Photography
Title
Little House On The Prairie
Artist
Jon Burch Photography
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
This recreated sod house near Windlass Hill, with its modern roof structure, was built as an Ash Hollow centennial project. Located in a small section of Ash Hollow State Park, this version of a traditional sod home dates back to 1967. Created in a land where lumber was scarce, this type of dwelling met the needs of the plains farmer. Although inexpensive, the sod home had its drawbacks. Quick to leak in a rainstorm, the sod roof also became extremely heavy, requiring lumber supports. Window openings were covered with lard soaked paper. Often times, small animals would also take up residence in the sod walls. Interiors were noted as cramped, stifling and dark.
Houses were not the only structures built of sod. The plains saw schools, barns and even a fort. Fort Mitchell, built in 1864 to provide protection for the Pony Express and the Oregon Trail, was made of sod. Today, there is no trace of Fort Mitchell and its thick sod walls.
Nearby stones surrounding this reconstructed “soddy” on the plains are the remains of the homestead dwelling of Reverend Dennis B. Clary, a pioneer Methodist Minister, who received final patent for his homestead May 22, 1899. Clary was born September 1st, 1822, in Maryland and immigrated to Nebraska in 1885. Using a horse drawn cart fashioned from available materials, he hauled stone and built a two room house. For years this was a land mark in Ash Hollow and marked the location of Windlass Hill. It was a popular stopping place for settlers traveling from the North Platte Valley area to the railroad at Big Springs, some twenty miles to the south.
The wagon road used at that time is still visible nearby. The Oregon Trail passed here, and the area surrounding the house was used by early travelers to repair damages caused by the hazardous trip down Windlass Hill.
Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition. Your finished photograph will not contain the Fine Art America watermark.
Image copyright 2021 Jon Burch Photography.
Uploaded
June 11th, 2021
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