HISTORICAL LOG HOUSE PHOTOS
The photos in the first part of this section show one of the log homes that Skip built at his previous ranch -- in the early 60's.
The Douglas Fir trees were cut at Skip's ranch, so the logs didn't cost anything.
The boards (for floors, doors, sills, cabinets, etc.) didn't cost anything either, because Skip cut them with a chain-saw attachment called an Alaska Sawmill.
Essentially, the entire home was built for almost nothing.
Skip feels that the wall-to-wall carpet probably cost more than the entire rest of the home.
This was a "multi-purpose" home, that was used for a great variety of things, such as a guest-house -- a tool-storage building -- a work-shop -- poker-parties -- etc.
This explains why there are tools on the wall, AND a vice and an anvil permanently mounted on the kitchen counter (where many dune-buggy engines and Jeep engines have been re-built).
It also explains why there are wall-to-wall carpets, AND all of the comforts of nice home.
This home has three stories, a second-floor outside deck (at the rear of the building), two bathrooms, and three bedrooms.
It was always furnished with very nice antiques, even though it was sometimes used as a work-shop by Skip and his buddies.
We are trying to find a few more "archive" photos of this house (showing the second floor bedrooms) -- and we will include them here as soon as they are found.
This photo was taken in the early 60's, shortly after the building was completed. The rafters had not yet been cut off at the eaves when this photo was taken (log rafters should not be permanently exposed to the weather).
On these walls there are a couple of two-man cross-cut saws, a couple of cant-hooks, a peavey, a spud, a snatch-block, etc.
On these walls there is a two-man cross-cut saw, a two-man ripping-saw, a bow-saw, a snatch-block, an anvil, a hay-knife, a log-tong, several plumb-bobs, etc.
Skip killed (and ate) the bear while working on the Alaska Railroad in 1957. He worked as a Railroad Section Hand -- driving railroad spikes on Extra Gang Three.
On the railroad he worked with his friends Pat Brady, Terrance Brady, Neil Gilman, Big Al Collucci, Big Charlie Poole, Charles Curtis, and three Eskimo brothers (Willie Peterson, Frank Peterson, and John Peterson), etc.
Skip wants to know where you guys are. Are you there (?)
Responde sil vous plais.
Skip doesn't remember what the roof-pitch was -- but people have often joked that it was so steep that birds wouldn't land on it.
The oak rocking chair (upholstered in black leather) is very comfortable.
At the lower right of the photo is the equivalent of a Maytag washing machine -- circa 1800. This washing-machine functions by raising it and lowering it violently (twisting it violently at the same time) into a wash-tub full of soapy water and dirty clothes. The six legs were the "agitators."
The vice and anvils were permanently mounted on the kitchen counter. There were
also a corn-meal grinder, small log tongs, two "bark-peeling-spuds," etc.
Check out the stove and refrigerator -- circa 1920
At the back of the counter there is an old "his master's voice" wind-up phonograph. On the floor is a crockery "plunger-style" butter-churn, and a copper milk-can. On the wall in the background are draw-knives, a spud, a froe, a wedge, several broad-axes, etc.
These boards were cut with a chain-saw -- from logs that were cut on Skip's property.
In the old days, Skip made all of his own butter. His favorite butter-churn is directly below the froe.
The stove and the refrigerator were manufactured in approximately 1920 -- before the concept of "built in obsolescence" became an issue. Both of these appliances are still in use at Skip's current ranch.
The water-pump has been plumbed -- so hot and cold water comes out of it when the knobs are turned.
A round oak table with six matching chairs. The stairway to the second floor. A buck-saw. A double-barreled shotgun. Log tongs. A railroad lantern.
MANY all-night poker games have been held at this table.
However, if all-night poker games are against the law, then we deny knowing anything about them.
What games ???
The doorway in the back wall opens into a bedroom, a bathroom, and a sauna.
Through the second floor opening it is possible to converse with people on the first floor.
An Olympic cook-stove, a kitchen-queen, an oak ice-box, etc.
The second-floor hallway. A cream separator. A saddle for one of Skip's horses. A bunch of weird stuff. Etc.
The third floor "den" area. An ancient radio with a "diaphragm-speaker." An oak writing desk. The complete works of Joseph Conrad.
The entrance-sign at the old Bar E Ranch. The two-foot tall trees that are planted just inside the fence are now 80' tall.
Some of the livestock at the old ranch.
From left to right... a pony named "Lightnin'," Skip's horse named "Bullet," and a Hereford named "T-Bone."
Skip's "working" dune-buggy -- that doubled as the in-ranch "pick up truck" and log skidder. This vehicle has "skidded" many small logs through the woods. With chains on the rear, and weight over the drive-wheels, it would go damned near anywhere.
In fact, it would go places that Skip's Jeep wouldn't go.
Skip got the VW from his good friend Bill Rubens [may he Rest in Peace]. Bill had two daughters and a son. Apparently these kids (now in their 40's (?) still live in the Seattle area. Where are you kids ??? Please give Skip a call. He would love to get together with you.
The vehicle was fabricated by Skip -- his good friend Lee Ellwell -- and his good friend "Lanny" (the owner of Showcase Auto Rebuild at the Totem Lake area of Kirkland/Redmond).
A partially completed guest-cabin. At this stage of the construction no money had been spent, on this cabin because all of the material came from the property.
Another partially completed guest cabin at the old Bar E Ranch.
This photo was taken at one of the monthly meetings of the Log Home Builders Association of North America. Some of the members are visible in the background. Members are encouraged to bring their floor-plans to the meetings -- so the plans can be constructively criticized by the the other members.
The members are also encouraged to build scale models -- and have them constructively criticized.
Another scale-model.
Another scale-model. Sometimes there are thirty or forty scale models at a meeting -- at various stages of completion.
These students (friends) were building a small house on the back of one of Skip's trucks. This will be used for parades, and various other events. The two boards are being used to determine the correct elevation for the ridge pole (string is normally used for this purpose, but the boards were handy). As you can see, the ridge pole needs to be lowered approximately four inches -- by notching it at both ends.
Skip's truck -- preparing to be a "Featured Exhibit" at a home show at the Seattle Kingdome. It seems very strange to us that the Kingdome was torn down -- even though it was relatively new, and in excellent condition.
Politics ??? Under-the-table deals ??? Corruption in government ???
Skip's truck-mounted log house (and some of his other log structures) have often been featured in the Kingdome.
Skip's log Winnebago (?) has often been a "Featured Exhibit" at the Seattle Center (the Space Needle is in the background).
When this photo was taken we were in the process of setting up our log home display at one of the Seattle Folklife Festivals.
One of our other small log buildings, partially erected, can be seen just to the left of center.
Another occasion at the Seattle Center (the following year ?). The truck-mounted log "home" is in the background.
Our log pony is on the right -- and a small log building is to the left of the pony.
This was the fifteenth year that Skip was featured at the Seattle Folklife Festival -- which is the largest festival of it's kind in the United States.
This was perhaps Skip's sixteenth year (?) as a Featured Exhibit at the Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center. This time he was given the entire area between the Exhibit Hall and the Entertainment Center. We brought four or five buildings with us, and we were at this location for approximately ten days. This photo was taken early in the morning (6 AM ?) -- before the crowds arrived. Skip was there for 12 to 16 hours each day -- answering log home questions.
Skip purchased this bus from the City of Seattle.
We fixed up the inside of the bus for traveling -- with a state-room in the rear, triple-bunks, a shower, a kitchen, a 7,500 watt generator, a living-room lounge area, huge captain's chairs for the driver and the person riding shotgun, etc.
We towed Skip's Jeep behind the bus -- and we went on "log home picture-taking trips" all over the United States.
As a result of these frequent "photo trips," Skip probably has the largest collection of log home photographs in the world.
Getting ready to "cruise" on a log-home-photo-taking-trip. Towing the Jeep.
Robin Stumbo is on the left, and David Doxtater is on the right.
On the third floor of Skip's current home (the one used to film the mansion scenes of Northern Exposure) there are brass plaques on two of the bedroom doors -- one says STUMBO ROOM -- and the other says DOXTATER ROOM.
In 1995 (?) Robin went to the Philippines to visit Skip. He stayed with Skip for six weeks or so. Hopefully, he will do so again in the near future.
Putting up the BAR E RANCH sign at the new ranch near Monroe.
This photo, and several to follow, are of classes that Skip taught via the University of Washington. This photo was probably taken in the early 60's.
Photos of smaller groups were of "non-instructional" work-parties.
Can anyone still spell the word "h-i-p-p-y" ???
A college class (early 60's ?) via the University of Washington
A college class (early 60's ?) via the U. of W.
A college class (early 60's ?) via the U. of W.
A college class (early 60's ?) via the U. of W.
A college class (early 60's ?) via the U. of W.
A "non-instructional" work-party.
A college class (early 60's ?) via the U. of W.
A "non-instructional" work-party -- including Sheila Fox, Brian Tennant, Coyote Mezzaros, etc. Where are you folks ???
A college class (early 60's ?) via the U. of W.
A "non-instructional" work-party. There is a log in the saw-buck -- and the girls (their word, not ours) are practicing with the two-man (again, their word not ours) cross-cut-saw.
A "non-instructional" work-party -- including Robin Stumbo, Ron Beard, Paul Cosura, etc.
A "non-instructional" work-party.
A "guest cabin" under construction at Skip's ranch.
One of Skip's homes (?), just waiting to happen. We are moving these logs from the old Bar E Ranch to the new one.
Arriving at the new Bar E Ranch with a load of logs. It cost $100 per load to haul the logs from Redmond to Monroe.
Unloading the logs from a self-loading logging truck. Skip's partially completed home is in the background. It is quite a large home.
Bob White (may he Rest in Peace) of Redmond, Washington was one of Skip's students, and a good friend.
In this photo, Bob is cutting beams with an Alaska Mill (a chain-saw attachment). This machine is great for making boards in remote areas, where there is no access to lumber yards, etc. It is especially good for making extremely large picnic tables, etc.
This is Skip Ellsworth on the cover of the LOG HOUSE BUILDERS JOURNAL.
This particular issue was published by the Log House Builders Association of North America in conjunction with Evergreen State College.