A hand-hewn cypress log cabin like this was the kind of home built in early Powhatan and could be erected quickly with a few simple tools. Though its exact construction date is unknown, this one-and-a-half story cabin was probably completed by the mid-nineteenth century and is the oldest structure in Powhatan. Its construction features reflect practical building methods: the builder used half-dovetail notches at the corners, with outward-sloping angles that drained water away from the notch, discouraged rot, and helped keep the cabin strong. Frequent maintenance of the chinking and daubing kept the gaps between the logs weather-tight, and doors and windows were small and few to conserve heat and minimize cutting structural logs.