Authenticity in the Preservation of Historical Wooden Architecture - Problems and Challenges

Case Studies from the American South

Tomasz Tomaszek

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781000078312
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Construction & Architectural Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Historical wooden architecture is one of the most unique types of heritage built. Built from organic material, wooden buildings remain in harmony with the natural environment and fascinate future generations with its special charm. Because of its uniqueness, wooden buildings reflect the richness of traditional building solutions developed in different parts of the world. At the same time, this type of building contains the spiritual values ??that were important to those who built these architectural structures.

The main topics of 'Authenticity in Preserving Historical Wooden Architecture - Problems and Challenges' are:

(i) The method of protection and preservation of wooden buildings as a form of specific historical interpretation;

(ii) The question of reconstruction and translocation of a wooden historical building with regard to the level of authenticity;

(iii) The analysis of the essence of historical changes and the methods for maintaining and displaying wooden structures in relation to the requirements that determine their historical and architectural authenticity.

Showing a variety of aspects of authenticity of wooden buildings, all demonstrated by specific examples (case studies), 'Authenticity in Preserving Historical Wooden Architecture - Problems and Challenges' presents practical implementations of theoretical findings. Hence, the book contributes to the understanding of wooden architectural heritage from a new perspective. The book will be of particular interest to academics and professionals interested in or involved in the preservation of built wooden heritage.

The preliminary recognition of the condition and authenticity of historical log structures remaining in Cane Ridge community (Antioch, Tennessee)

ABSTRACT: This paper presents and discusses in terms of the authenticity of heritage buildings the significant historical log structures still existing in the Cane Ridge community, a few miles southeast of Nashville proper, and within the suburban township of Antioch, Tennessee. As the traditional type of vernacular architecture of the first settlers in Middle Tennessee, these wooden structures are an integral component of the cultural landscape of this region, reflecting the identity of its inhabitants. Therefore, the proper protection and preservation of these buildings for future generations is of the utmost importance. To determine adequate conservation methodology, it is necessary to recognize and understand the authenticity of these structures. Such an analysis is essential for identifying processes that have modified their original formal, spatial and technological solutions.

1 INTRODUCTION

The aim of this project was to locate and conduct preliminary research in terms of the authenticity of the significant historical log structures still existing in the Cane Ridge community, a few miles southeast of Nashville proper, and within the suburban township of Antioch, Tennessee. These buildings, now disappearing at an accelerated pace from the cultural landscape of Middle Tennessee due to development pressure, were once the basic type of vernacular architecture of these lands.

The reconnaissance allowed the development of a general assessment of these cultural and structural features, and thus we obtain a clearer picture of the layered history and building tradition of the overall community. However, due to the complex nature of the issue, it should be remembered that the analyses only of individual buildings are in fact selective and at the same time “a-historical” and thus insufficient for recognizing the complex integrative nature of rural community life and its building tradition [McMurry, 2001, p. 34]. Thus, broader understanding of the issue requires further diagnoses of context and studies of cultural meaning, allowing for a fuller reading of the complex character of the problem, to which the present analyses constitute only a contribution.

The log structures presented in this paper are a kind of specific chronicle of changes that have occurred both in local building tradition and the way of life of their residents. The analysis of the context of the authenticity of these buildings remains an extremely difficult and multilayered task (as it requires the proper recognition and understanding of historical architectural and technological solutions while capturing the dynamics of later transformations at the formal and aesthetic level), however, its execution is essential for adequate preservation of the material culture and built environment of the region in question.

2 HISTORICAL LOG STRUCTURES IN THE CANE RIDGE COMMUNITY

The investigations made it possible to determine that a surprising number of historical log structures or their remains are still present in the Cane Ridge and directly adjacent areas, and unexpectedly many of them are early structures, dating back even to 1805.

According to the local lore, several buildings may even be older, including the log portions of the Gillespie-Culbertson house and the Daniel Gray Clark house, both purported (by their current owners) to date to the late 1700s, as well as log structures imbedded within or obscured by later board siding, such as the Burkitt and Whitsett houses. [Andrews, 2017,p. 4]

Several of them are still owned by descendants of early residents or original builders. What`s also interesting, the surviving percentage of the historical fabric essential for this cultural landscape of Middle Tennessee is especially significant given the relatively small size of the community and the degree of development th...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• About the author
• A critical study of the search for authenticity and significance in historic wooden buildings
• Issue of the reconstruction of wooden log cabins as a part of the interpretation of historically significant places in West and Middle Tennessee – case studies of Parkers Crossroads, Meriwether Lewis Monument and Shiloh National Military Park
• The preliminary recognition of the condition and authenticity of historical log structures remaining in Cane Ridge community (Antioch, Tennessee)
• Reconstruction of a group of historic wooden buildings and the authenticity of the architectural heritage structure – a case study of Wynnewood, Tennessee
• Authenticity versus interpretation – issues of the preservation of historical wooden buildings using the example of The Tipton-Haynes Historic Site and The Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation, significant historic farms in Tennessee.