Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin

Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin (a.k.a. Schorn Log Cabin), is a historic cabin and one of the last historical dwellings in Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. It stands on the grounds of the cemetery of the Trinity Church. It is one of the oldest original log cabins of early Swedish-Finnish architecture in the United States. [1]

Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin
General information
Architectural styleSwedish Log Cabin
LocationSwedesboro, New Jersey, United States
Coordinates39°44′58″N 75°18′25″W
Completedc. 1654
Governing bodyCumberland County Historical Society

History
The Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin, seen from the cemetery.

The Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin was originally built along the north bank of the Raccoon River by Morton Mortenson, a Swedish-Finnish man who arrived in the Delaware Valley, at that time part of the colony of New Sweden, in May 1654. Mortenson's great-grandson, John Morton, would go on to sign the Declaration of Independence as a Pennsylvania delegate. The cabin consists of one small room with no windows and a single door and its walls are made of cedar logs and lime mortar caulk. The Cabin was also owned by a local notable Dr. Bernardhus Van Leer and later by the Van Leer family who were noted in the anti-slavery cause.[2][3] Prior to and during the American Civil War, the Van Leer family used the Log Cabin as a station for the Underground Railroad to help slaves escape to free negro communities.[4] Van Leers also built nearby villages for freed slaves and financially supported the Underground Railroad.[5][6][2] Being originally located along Raccoon Creek on a terrain belonging to the Morton Mortenson Plantation, the cabin was donated by the Schorn Family to the Gloucester County Historical Society, who relocated the cabin to the cemetery located behind Trinity Episcopal Church in Swedesboro in 1989.[7]

Architecture

The cabin is an example of the typical Swedish-Finnish cabin architecture, utilizing notched logs which overlapped corners, brought to the area upon the settlement of the New Sweden Colony.[8]

See also

References
  1. Stanley, Lois M (2012-02-20). Swedesboro and Woolwich Township. Arcadia. ISBN 9780738563343. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  2. "History: Local: Village of Lima, Middletown Twp, Chester (now Delaware) Co, PA". usgwarchives.net.
  3. Smith Futhey, J. (2007). "History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Biographies & Slavery". History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Biographies & Slavery. pp. 687–688. ISBN 9780788443879.
  4. Lepley, Kristin. "The Charming Small Town In New Jersey That Is Home To One Of The State's Oldest Log Cabins And Churches". MSN.
  5. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/33e0ccbd-9d73-4fe4-99de-1e6214e81ae1
  6. "Historical Sites, Mortonson-Schorn Log Cabin". Gloucester County, New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  7. Kyriakodis, Harry (2012-02-20). "On The Day To Honor Abe (And George), We Present You Log Cabins". Hidden City. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  8. "Log Buildings 1638 - 1880". Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
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