Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin (a.k.a. Schorn Log Cabin), is an 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]
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]
^Smith Futhey, J. (2007). "History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Biographies & Slavery". History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Biographies & Slavery. pp. 687–688. ISBN9780788443879.
^Lepley, Kristin. "The Charming Small Town In New Jersey That Is Home To One Of The State's Oldest Log Cabins And Churches". MSN.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanleer Cedar Log Cabin (Swedesboro, New Jersey).
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NJ-92, "Vanleer Cedar Log Cabin, Swedesboro, Gloucester County, NJ", 2 photos, 5 measured drawings, 4 data pages
January 20, 2023
mortonson, leer, cabin, schorn, cabin, historic, cabin, last, historical, dwellings, swedesboro, gloucester, county, jersey, united, states, stands, grounds, cemetery, trinity, church, oldest, original, cabins, early, swedish, finnish, architecture, united, st. Mortonson Van Leer Log Cabin a k a Schorn Log Cabin is an 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 CabinGeneral informationArchitectural styleSwedish Log CabinLocationSwedesboro New Jersey United StatesCoordinates39 44 58 N 75 18 25 W 39 74944 N 75 30694 W 39 74944 75 30694 Coordinates 39 44 58 N 75 18 25 W 39 74944 N 75 30694 W 39 74944 75 30694Completedc 1654Governing bodyCumberland County Historical Society Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit 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 EditThe 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 EditList of the oldest buildings in New Jersey Morton Homestead John Morton American politician Van Leer Cabin New Sweden Farmstead MuseumReferences Edit Stanley Lois M 2012 02 20 Swedesboro and Woolwich Township ISBN 9780738563343 Retrieved 2008 02 22 a b http files usgwarchives net pa delaware history local lima0001 txt bare URL plain text file Smith Futhey J 2007 History of Chester County Pennsylvania Biographies amp Slavery History of Chester County Pennsylvania Biographies amp Slavery pp 687 688 ISBN 9780788443879 Lepley Kristin The Charming Small Town In New Jersey That Is Home To One Of The State s Oldest Log Cabins And Churches MSN https npgallery nps gov GetAsset 33e0ccbd 9d73 4fe4 99de 1e6214e81ae1 Historical Sites Mortonson Schorn Log Cabin Gloucester County New Jersey Retrieved 2020 02 24 Kyriakodis Harry 2012 02 20 On The Day To Honor Abe And George We Present You Log Cabins Hidden City Retrieved 2020 02 24 Log Buildings 1638 1880 Pennsylvania Historical amp Museum Commission Retrieved 2020 02 24 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanleer Cedar Log Cabin Swedesboro New Jersey Historic American Buildings Survey HABS No NJ 92 Vanleer Cedar Log Cabin Swedesboro Gloucester County NJ 2 photos 5 measured drawings 4 data pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mortonson Van Leer Log Cabin amp oldid 1133802259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
