Allen's Original World Famous Redwood Log House

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WORLD FAMOUS HITAL T LOG HOUSE 正E D ON NATIONAL TOUR SPONSORED SY EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITof THE CALIFORNIA REDWOODS WORLD FAMOUS LOG HOUSE KT FOR HRE Allens Original World Famous Log House AIMTY BEDROOM LIVING ROOM KITCHEN

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Aichagure face fair 8-87 THE STORY OF Allen's Original Redwood Log House FIRST CLASS LETTER J6848 A carpenter straightened Himself wearily from the planing, and the last shaving wafted to the ground. At the same time, figuratively and half across the yet undiscovered world, a cone bearing small brown seeds dropped to the rich soil of California's coastal plain. The man was Jesus of Nazareth, and one tree which grew from the cone of seeds is that through which you have now passed. The redwoods are the oldest living things on the face of the earth. Fifty nine years ago Jim Allen was fishing on the famed waters of the Klamath River in Northern California. A sudden rain squall rose, and Allen sought shelter in a "goose-pen" tree... one of those forest giants which fire had burned nearly hollow some time in the past, but which still lived. A sudden thought struck him as he waited out the shower. "Why not,” he mused, "a house from one of these?" The tree which Allen selected years later was not hollow when it was cut. After spending over a month going through the forests to find a tree that was suitable and one that could be taken out of the woods without too much damage done to the bark, the tree was found at last on the property of the Georgia Pacific Lumber Co. near Eureka, California. The tree was 14 feet in diameter at the stump cut, 267 feet high and 1900 years old. This is the fourth log that was cut from the base of the tree. This log is 33 feet long, 8 feet wide and 9 feet 4 inches in height at the larger end. The end you just came through is cut 65 feet from the stump cut, after the tree was felled. After the log had been cut it was taken into Eureka and then the gigantic task began of removing the material from the inside of the log. Working around the clock for over four months with drills, chisels, wedges and foot adzes over 11,000 board feet of lumber was removed. Enough material was removed to have built a five-room home but it could not be saved. The walls were sanded and rubbed down by hand, then finished with a clear varnish to bring out the natural grain of the wood. The case work and cabinets are all built in of redwood material but not of what was taken from the log. The entire tree contained 74,000 board feet of lumber, enough to have built six modern bungalows. From the time this exhibit was started until it was completed it required the work of two men a little over one year. More than 85 natural parks, spread over 60,000 acres, have been preserved for all time by the California State Park System and the Save The Redwoods League, open to all the world for camping, fishing and swimming in the many beautiful rivers and streams, for hiking and for just resting. Nearly all have full camping facilities, many with cabins and tent-houses. Some of these giant redwood trees measure 30 feet in diameter. The tallest known tree, last measured several years ago, towered 365 feet above the ground. This redwood tree is located at Dyerville Flat, Humboldt County, California, and each year at Christmas it is lighted for its full height to become the most awesome and fabulous Christmas tree in the history of the world. The tree section through which you have just passed, grew in this same general area of the famous redwood Empire of Humboldt County, California. The oldest cut tree, by actual ring count, had witnessed the passing of 3,126 years. There is no record of one ever having died of old age. The redwood is slow to decay, is fire resistant, and is distasteful to termites, making it one of the finest and yet economical home-building materials. The coastal growth belt is 35 miles wide and 450 miles long, with the Redwood Highway coursing through the length of it to make the world's most magnificent scenic drive. The tree home completed by Jim Allen is probably the oldest wooden residence in existence, outdated only by the stone and clay of the ancient world before Christ. It has lived through the time of Bethlehem, of Rome and of the Crusades; through the glories of storied Cathay, on and on through 20 centuries and countless generations of mankind. And its regal companions and descendants will go down through the ages, with or without us. Mike Roberts Color Productions Oakland, CA 94623