Swedish Store House and Granary

Swedish Store House and Granary
circa 1650
One of its kind, in America

The Swedish Granary consists of a two part structure built with notched and crossed corners with ends of logs slightly projecting, and the logs rather tightly fitted together. They are of cedar. No openings exist in the east, north and west sides.

A log partition divides the building (north and south) into two spaces. There is a loft or second floor level, in one. At the top of the highest logs all around the building, a broad axe hewn square oak timber, mortised and pegged at the corners, forms a mot, which serves as a plate for the rafters. The rafters are tapered oak, with a characteristic cut on the heel.

The roof pitch is reasonably steep and the gables are sheathed with vertical boards. Barge boards are tapered. The stone foundation or base is of local iron stone.

Restoration has been historically accurate. For example… “the roof is carried by oak perlines…rafters cut from local swamp sour gum carry the perlines…first course flithches are covered with copper cloth, to simulate “birch bark”…inside flithches exposed…outside to the weather, cut on one side to snug!”

The original structure was given to the Cumberland County Historical Society by Robert Fralinger, Jr. of Hopewell Township. The log structure was moved and restored at its present site with the generous help of the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Dedication of the Swedish Granary took place on Saturday, November 20, 1976.

The log structure was authenticated as of Swedish settlement origin by G. Edwin Brumbaugh, PAIA and Albert F. Ruthrauff, AIA – Registered Architects in 1973.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lindborg, of Newton Square, Pennsylvania, known as authorities on the Swedish Experience in the “Delaware Valley” agree that the log structure is the sole surviving example of this type of building from the earliest era of the European settlements of our region… it is, therefore, absolutely unique.

The Lindborgs give credit to the late Dr. Amandus Johnson as to their sources. Professor Johnson’s “The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware” is not only a classic, but is considered the final authority on the “Swedes and Finns” in early America.