Roadside Stands Made Of Logs

It is customary for farmers, whose land lies along a roadway, to erect stands at which to sell garden produce and other farm products. Competition in this field is keen, so the attractiveness of stands is of prime importance and value. A simple roadside produce market can consist of nothing more than a boxlike counter surmounted by a sheltering roof. Because the merchan­dise usually is removed from the stand at night, a per­manently open structure can be used. Of course, if de­sirable, a small cabinlike building with a front opening surmounted by a hinged roof that can be swung down at night, can be employed. The shapes and sizes of roadside produce stands vary widely. Pleasing propor­tions are desirable, and freakish construction should be avoided. Often a plan for a full-sized cabin can be reduced by one third or one half, to produce an attrac­tive stand. Log-cabin siding is particularly adaptable to such designs, although real logs, shakes, shingles, or ordinary weatherboarding can be employed as well.

One of the greatest advantages in using real logs or log siding is that these materials do not have to be painted or otherwise protected from the weather. This reduces upkeep costs. Such structures always look in good shape, even after years of exposure. By their very nature, they are supposed to be weatherbeaten.

Barbecue stands are constructed exactly like any cabin or other lunch stand, provision of course being made for the serving of sandwiches, refreshments, and full meals to customers. Such buildings generally are of fair size, and sometimes contain small dance floors. Log cabin construction methods are flexible enough to permit the erection of buildings of any size.

Gasoline stations present no problems to the person familiar with cabin building. A gasoline station often is of the same general design as a tourist cabin with attached car shed, so that the plans for tourist homes, given elsewhere in this book, may be adapted by in­creasing the dimensions somewhat.

Farmers who wish to sell their produce to tourists could do no better than erect a sales cabin like this.

Log-cabin sites are fittingly advertised by a log-cabin sign like this set up at the side of the road.

The owner of a chain of lunch stands, filling stations, or other commercial enterprise will find it profitable to standardize on one distinctive type of construction. He might operate the “Log Cabin Wayside Stores,” or a series of “Shingled Shanties” for the dispensing of soft drinks. Once a motorist becomes familiar with one of the units of such a chain, he will recognize others instantly, and immediately feel that he is meeting an old friend.

An architect who was called upon to produce plans for an inexpensive yet attractive town hall specified pine-log siding set vertically and painted white, to produce a modernistic appearance. The job, when com­pleted, lived up to all expectations, indicating that building materials primarily intended for rustic pro­jects can be turned to modern purposes.

This scheme could be adapted to the wayside stand with gratifying results, provided the design was well worked out. For the small structure, narrow, round-log siding probably would be most suitable. Simply by varying the fundamental design and finish, a structure resembling a pole house or a modernistic building can be produced.

If you are in the business of erecting cabins for others, it may pay you to investigate the possibilities of roadside stands and their close relatives. A drive along any highway will reveal dozens of such places. Many of them, you will find, are sadly in need of over­hauling or complete replacement. By talking the mat­ter over with the owners, you may be able to bring home to them the wisdom of operating a stand that really is attractive and distinctive. By making a special study of the requirements of highway business places, you ought to have no trouble in establishing yourself in a well paying business. When you have finished erecting such a stand, attach to it some form of inoffensive label or name plate that will tell others who did the work. Then, when a man who has an idea that he might find profit in operating a similar place happens along, he will have little trouble in finding someone to do the work for him.

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How To Build A Log Cabin