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Backwoods Settlements: A History of Hunting Cabins and Lumber Camps in the American Wilderness

Nathan Reed

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Published in NORTH PENNSYLVANIA MINSTRELSY: BACKWOODS SETTLEMENTS HUNTING CABINS LUMBER CAMPS

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NORTH PENNSYLVANIA MINSTRELSY: BACKWOODS SETTLEMENTS, HUNTING CABINS, LUMBER CAMPS

by D C Robinson

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Language	:	English
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Backwoods settlements were small, isolated communities that sprang up in the remote wilderness of North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. These settlements were often home to hunters, trappers, and lumberjacks, and they played an important role in the development of the American frontier.

Backwoods settlements were typically located in areas that were difficult to access by land or water. This isolation helped to protect the settlements from attack by Native Americans and other hostile forces. Backwoods settlers were often self-sufficient, and they relied on hunting, fishing, and trapping for food. They also grew their own crops and raised livestock.

The first backwoods settlements were established in the Appalachian Mountains in the early 18th century. As the American frontier expanded westward, so too did the number of backwoods settlements. By the early 19th century, backwoods settlements could be found in all parts of the country, from the Great Lakes to the Rocky Mountains.

Backwoods settlements played an important role in the development of the American frontier. They provided a base of operations for hunters, trappers, and lumberjacks, and they helped to open up new areas of the country to settlement. Backwoods settlers also played a role in the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

Hunting Cabins

Hunting cabins were small, one-room structures that were used by hunters to shelter themselves from the elements and store their supplies. Hunting cabins were typically made of logs or clapboards, and they had a dirt floor and a fireplace. Hunters would often sleep in their hunting cabins for several days at a time, and they would use them as a base of operations for their hunting expeditions.

Hunting cabins were an important part of the backwoods lifestyle. They provided hunters with a place to stay while they were in the wilderness, and they helped to keep hunters safe from the elements and from wild animals. Hunting cabins also played a role in the development of the American frontier. They helped to open up new areas of the country to hunting, and they provided a place for hunters to meet and share stories.

Lumber Camps

Lumber camps were temporary settlements that were established in the forest to house lumberjacks. Lumber camps were typically made up of a number of log cabins, a cookhouse, and a blacksmith shop. Lumberjacks would live in the lumber camp for several months at a time, and they would work long hours to cut down trees and haul logs.

Lumber camps played an important role in the development of the American economy. They provided lumber for the construction of homes, businesses, and other buildings. Lumber camps also helped to open up new areas of the country to settlement. Lumberjacks would often clear land for farms and towns, and they would build roads and bridges to connect these new settlements to the outside world.

Decline of Backwoods Settlements

The decline of backwoods settlements began in the late 19th century. As the American frontier closed, the need for hunters and trappers diminished. The development of new technologies, such as the steam engine and the railroad, also made it easier to transport lumber from distant forests to cities and towns. As a result, many backwoods settlements were abandoned.

Today, only a few backwoods settlements remain. These settlements are typically located in remote areas of the country, and they are home to a small number of people who live a traditional lifestyle. Backwoods settlements are a reminder of the important role that these communities played in the development of the American frontier.

Backwoods settlements were small, isolated communities that played an important role in the development of the American frontier. These settlements were home to hunters, trappers, and lumberjacks, and they provided a base of operations for these men as they opened up new areas of the country to settlement. Today, only a few backwoods settlements remain, but they are a reminder of the important role that these communities played in the history of the United States.

A Backwoods Settlement In The Appalachian Mountains NORTH PENNSYLVANIA MINSTRELSY: BACKWOODS SETTLEMENTS HUNTING CABINS LUMBER CAMPS