The J. R. Rice log cabin, a famous nearby waystation for travelers and later a stagecoach inn along the El Camino Real, was donated by the Rice family and moved here to Mission Tejas State Park, also along the El Camino Real, in 1974.
The state historic marker for the cabin reads:
"THE J. R. RICE LOG CABIN
Joseph Redmond Rice (1805-1866) cut timber; then his young wife, Willie Masters Rice (1809-1881), snaked the logs to a homesite 16 miles southwest of here. the cabin they built was a noted way-station on the San Antonio Road. They brought up nine children, enlarging their cabin several times. After a grandson built a frame home in 1919, the old cabin became a farm storage shed. The Texas Centennial Commission in 1936 marked its history, and in 1973 it was given to the State of Texas and moved here for restoration and exhibition. (1976)"
A set of 3 intrepretive signs at the log cabin read as follows:
"[R]
"THE RICE FAMILY LOG HOME
Joseph Rice and his wife Willie came to Texas from Tennessee and 1828 and built their log home by 1838. Rice prospered as a farmer, growing cotton and corn and raising livestock. The Rices had eleven children, six of whom were probably born in the log house.
Joseph Rice's home served as a stopover for travelers on the old San Antonio Road, an important their affair cross early Texas. From 1692 1820 the road linked Spain settlements in East Texas with Mexico. During the first half of the 1800s, Americans use the road to enter and travel through Texas.
[Map of Texas and El Camino Real]"
[C]
"The Rice home is historically interesting because of its log construction. German immigrants brought this method of construction to Pennsylvania during the early 1700s. American pioneers carried the techniques with them westward, introducing log construction into Texas by 1820.
The first step in log construction was to cut the logs and haul them on a conveyance such as a "lizard" to the chosen site.
After making a line on top for use as a guide, the craftsman scored the log with the poleaxe, making cuts 5" to 8" apart.
When entire side was scored the craftsman hewed the log with a broadaxe.
For a more finished appearance he used in adze to chop off small chunks of wood.
Using a small acts the craftsman cut notches into the ends. The notches bore the weight of the structure and held the log in place."
[L]
"Workmen used a skid to lift the logs onto the wall. The logs are separated by cracks to allow for varying sizes and warping. Openings for doors and windows were cut later.
Using a froe and mallet, the craftsman splits shakes from a log to be used for shingles.
The Rice home is not in its original state nor location. First situated 16 miles southwest of the park near Crockett, the home underwent modification and deterioration. In 1974, Texas Parks and wildlife moved the house to its present site and restored it. Restored elements are obvious by the use of new wood."
The El Camino Real de los Tejas has been designated a National Historic Trail through the states of Texas and New Mexico. (
visit link)
"From the Rio Grande to the Red River Valley
Come on a journey that will carry you through 300 years of Louisiana and Texas frontier settlement and development on a Spanish colonial "royal road" that originally extended to Mexico City, Mexico.
You are about to travel 2,500 miles, from Mission San Juan Bautista Guerrero, Mexico to Fort St. Jean Baptiste Nachitoches Parish, Louisiana."