Log Cabins and Castles

The story of Virginia settlers in Ohio

    From the late 18th century, thousands of settlers from Virginia crossed the mountains to settle in Ohio.  Small farmers raised corn, tobacco, hogs, and cattle, and built simple houses or log cabins. Large landowners from plantation society became Ohio's new aristocracy, living in "castles" on estates. In addition, blacks became fugitives on the Underground Railroad, and freed slaves.

The landscape of Ohio still reflects the traditions of Virginia settlers-in houses, barns and farm buildings, crops and livestock, land divisions and place names. Geographer Hubert Wilhelm travels to Virginia and West Virginia to learn about the settlers and their traditions, retraces their westward journey along the Wilderness Road, and finds their legacy in the rural back roads and small towns of Ohio.

Shot on location in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Pike and Ross counties, Ohio; Albemarle, Charlotte, Goochland and Madison counties, Virginia; and Braxton County, West Virginia. Written, directed and edited by David Mould. Photographed by Ann Alter.

The companion Log Cabins & Castles Study Guide ($7.00) is illustrated with photographs, sketches, maps and tables, and covers: - Southern Settlement in Ohio - Pioneer Routes Virginia Land Grants - Land Divisions - Southern Farming in Ohio - Log Construction - The Virginia I House - The Southern Bam - Smoke Houses & Root Cellars - Southern Town Plats Virginia Names & Places Religious Traditions - Exercises for Reading the Landscape Festivals and Tours - Historic Places, Sites & Museums.

(56 minute DVD, $25)
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      Reviews

 "An interesting and informative look at how the contemporary Ohio land and townscapes reflect the traditions of Virginia."- Video Rating Guide for Libraries

 "An interesting, informative scenario in landscape reading ... most appropriate for classroom instruction on the early history and geography of Ohio.” - Journal of Popular Culture

  
         

 		    

Funded by grants from the Ohio Arts Council, the Ohio Joint Program in the Arts and Humanities, the Virginia Foundation for Humanities and Public Policy, and Ohio University.