400 Hundred Years Old! Amazing Piece of American History in New Jersey
This time April and I were off to Gloucester County in search of the oldest home in New Jersey. In fact, this is one of the oldest in America
The home is called the C.A. Nothnagle Log House. The original section of the home dates back to 1638. According to my research, the cabin was built by settlers (Swedish or Finnish) of what was then New Sweden. This cabin is nearly 400 years old, amazing to see something as old as this, right here in New Jersey. This may be the oldest log house in North America.
According to Wikipedia, some of the ironworks (Scandinavian) in the fireplace date back to circa 1590... that’s a long time ago. The bricks to build the fireplace were thought to have been brought to America from Europe, serving as “ballast” on the ship. So there is a lot of history inside and outside this cabin. The cabin is considered possibly the oldest log cabin structure in America. The logs are made of oak.
The C.A. Nothnagle Log House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The addition was added in the 18th century as was the floor which replaced the original dirt floor. Originally the cabin was 16 x 22 and many considered that to be large for the times.
Just amazing to think of what it must have been like 400 years ago in this place known as New Sweden 🇸🇪 - just incredible something has survived for so long. In 1638 Queen Christina was the ruler of Sweden. This section of New Jersey still has a strong Swedish background. New Sweden consisted of land in parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey along the lower Delaware River.
Gibbstown, where the cabin is located, was about a 90-minute drive from Southern Ocean County. After we visited the cabin and took photos we then swung over to Swedesboro in Gloucester County. Fun historic little town with a neat downtown area with lots of historic buildings. By the way, check out the Red Hen.