Part 3/8:
Log homes constructed from Minnesota's abundant timber were a key feature of settler life. The walls of these cabins were not merely wooden logs; they were insulated with materials such as clay or moss. Extra fabric, if available, was used to provide additional warmth inside. The building techniques mirrored those used in their homelands, adapted to the available resources in Minnesota.
In areas where timber was sparse, such as South Dakota, settlers resorted to building sod houses. An interview with Anna Aonan, a descendant of Finnish settlers, illustrated this adaptability. She recounted how her ancestors created homes from grass and earth, with even the windows made from thinly stretched oil paper. These structures, while rudimentary, provided crucial shelter against the elements.