Joe Garrett House, in Millers Chapel Community of Lee County,
was the last house built by Emmett Eagle in 1920's when he was in his late 60's.
Joe Garrett House, in Millers Chapel Community of Lee County,
was the last house built by Emmett Eagle in 1920's when he was in his late 60's.
Often we are asked how we got into the log home business. I always knew that someday I would build a log home and it looked like now was as good a time as any. The more brochures I looked through, the more confused I became, with each manufacturer claiming to be the best - I quickly saw their best just wasn't what I wanted, so I decided to build my own. My dad's Great Grandfather Ambrose Eagle and both his grandfathers, Emmett Eagle and Joseph Williams, were handcrafters and builders of log homes. "Logsmiths", as they were called in those days. With this in mind, Judy and I simply took a framing square, level and common sense and went up the hill to an old log house which had been handcrafted by Ambrose Eagle, and studied the technique he had used - integrating modern technology and a few modifications of our own, devised a near perfect system. Later, it seemed fitting to call our improved design "The Eagle System." My dad, "Babe" was a retired coal miner and my uncle, Bob Williams, a retired carpenter. Combining their knowledge and expertise in hewing and handcrafting and my experience in construction, we began to build our first log home. The handcrafting was done on site, next to the foundation. The logs were hand hewn, the dovetail corners were notched, then the logs were placed in the wall, one at a time. When folks saw the handcrafting, hewing, dovetail notches and workmanship, word got around. The response was unreal!! Before our house was finished, we had orders for other log homes, and the rest is history. Old Virginia Hand Hewn Log Homes, Inc. was born in 1981 with the goal to continue an American heritage - handcrafting authentic, Appalachian style log homes - continuing a family tradition. (by Reed Williams)
|
|
|
Ambrose Eagle Homeplace (Grandfather of Reed Williams)
Dismantled and moved about 10 miles to Reed and Judy Williams' farm to be restored. |
Copyright 2003, Old Virginia Hand Hewn Log Homes, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. -
