This is topic Trivia question about westward expansion in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
 
Does anyone know why settlers burned down their homes before moving west during the westward expansion?
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
When you say westward expansion do you mean the entire machine? Or was there a specific group of people you were talking about?
 
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
quote:
Nails were not used in log structures. Large wooden pegs or trunnels (tree nails) were
used to secure timbers and the frames of the door and windows, hinges, and so on. The hinges
might be made of wood, or leather; but by the time Iowa was being settled, iron hardware was
available, often being made from strap iron in the pioneer's own "shop." The very earliest settlers
sometimes burned their cabins to retrieve the hardware as they moved on farther into the
wilderness.
Hangers for clothing or harness were made by inserting a peg into a hole bored in the
wall, or by nailing a forked stick in a handy place

From here
 
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Farmgirl:
quote:
Nails were not used in log structures. Large wooden pegs or trunnels (tree nails) were
used to secure timbers and the frames of the door and windows, hinges, and so on. The hinges
might be made of wood, or leather; but by the time Iowa was being settled, iron hardware was
available, often being made from strap iron in the pioneer's own "shop." The very earliest settlers
sometimes burned their cabins to retrieve the hardware as they moved on farther into the
wilderness.
Hangers for clothing or harness were made by inserting a peg into a hole bored in the
wall, or by nailing a forked stick in a handy place

From here
And that was indeed the answer they were looking for. Shame I didn't get back here in time.
 


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