Idell Virginia Highsmith Lee was truly a pioneer in the 20th century and she lived in a log cabin to prove it. She married Ezra Marmaduke Lee on April 22, 1923 in Duval County, Florida. Together they built a real log cabin at 9313 Crystal Springs Road on Jacksonville, Florida’s westside. When I met “Granny Lee”, her husband Ezra of 39 years had recently died leaving her alone in the cabin but with grandkids all living on the land next to her. 

My memories of Granny are fond. She celebrated the many who dropped by to see her. They were always welcome in her 2 br family-built log cabin.  She told me that she, Ezra and with some neighbor’s help build the cabin not long after they married.  It was a long project and took some time to build but it was theirs and they were so proud of it.

The log cabin was small and unique with about 14 logs top to bottom on each wall. There was little chinking inside and on some walls, the only covering was the outside small square wood siding.   It was certainly not weather tight. Chinking or daubing is a mixture of clay, mud, sand and sometimes wood splits that is mixed together and used to pack in between the logs to fill all gaps.  The purpose would be to prevent weather concerns, insect problems and air leakage. On the inside of their log cabin, some walls had only daubing where the corner logs met. It would be important to put some daubing at the corners to prevent log movement and they met that need with no worry. 

The Lee cabin had two four glass pane entry doors; one in the front and one out back with a screen door as well.  The steps were wooden and there was a single hand rail for support to come in and out. All of the way around side to side and front to back there was wood siding. By 1971 it looked weathered but in good shape.

Granny Lee died in August of 1996. Her tomb stone has a cross in the center.  She loved the Lord and lived out His principles.  She is buried next to her beloved Ezra at Evergreen Cemetery.  Her family eventually sold the land and the Lee log cabin was demolished for a beautiful and stately home made of brick and mortar.  I had a photograph framed and will give to the folks who live there honoring her legacy. 

See you Tomorrow,

Nan