May 2011
A love of country music and the outdoors (plus a referral from a friend) first drew the Miller family to this rustic Tennessee lake. Seeing an Honest Abe log home sold them on the company and log home living. Chris and Annie Miller and children live most of the time in Parkland, Florida, but they, and their extended family, have spent quite a bit of time in the Cornerstone development, overlooking this rustic, Corps of Engineers lake, since they completed their 2,200 square-foot log home in mid2010.
“We love country music and love going to different parts of Tennessee, and we loved the thought of being more in the ‘wilderness,’” Chris said. “I have a chiropractor friend who said we should look at the Dale Hollow area as a possible site for our second home.” Based on that referral, the Millers visited the area, which Miller described as “just beautiful.” The seasons were gorgeous and the community was fantastic. The lake definitely played a big influence on our decision. If we hadn’t found Dale Hollow, we might not have built in the area.”
While visiting the area, the Millers saw a home built for one of their eventual neighbors by Honest Abe Log Homes. To say it caught their eye might be an understatement. “Our neighbor had built an Honest Abe home,” Miller said. “We saw it, stopped to look and I asked the owner: ‘How old is your home?” When he said it was 10 years old, I asked myself: ‘How can this home be that old? It looks like it was built last year.’ “So we got confirmation, by accident, from a homeowner about Honest Abe,” he said.
May 2011 Easy to work with The Millers soon called Honest Abe national headquarters, located less than an hour’s drive from the building site, and talked to direct salesperson Inez Price to begin checking out the company. “We didn’t tell Inez right away that we had already seen one of their homes,” Miller said. It didn’t take long for the Millers and Honest Abe to get better acquainted. “Everyone was just so easy to work with,” Miller said. “We told them what we wanted - planters, rounded windows and lots of porch space - and made a
lot of modifications, but got exactly what we wanted.” The Miller home is a modified version of the Honest Abe Oakbrook standard model. The home is constructed with the Honest Abe D-log system, with a heavy timer roof system featuring exposed rafters. It has three bedrooms, two baths and an open loft. A very spacious great room is created by an open floor plan for the kitchen, dining and living areas. There is wood of varying shades and colors from the floors to the ceilings. “There’s nothing in the construc-
tion that will ever need painting,” Miller said, “and we have decorated it in a very rustic way.”
May 2011
May 2011 “Thrilled to death with it” Miller said log home living appealed to the family from both a practical and aesthetic point of view. “We were really impressed with how our neighbor’s 10-yearold home looked - almost like it was new,” he said. “Honest Abe’s construction really stands the test of time. We loved the idea of low maintenance, and it seems to me log homes will last forever if they’re properly built.” The Millers were also drawn to “the natural look of being in a log home, and its tranquility. It’s just
so much different than a conventional home. It’s very appealing and we are just thrilled to death with our home,” Chris said. The family broke ground on their home in January of 2010 and finished work in June, but it has been heavily used since the final nail was driven. “We’ve been up six times since we finished construction, and a lot of our extended family has stayed here, too,” Miller said. “It’s serving as a ‘family getaway’ for a lot of people.” The Millers spent the past Christmas holidays on Dale Hollow. “We had 20 or 25 people here then, and we had a great time,” he said.
Miller, who serves as president of a 600-employee food distribution company, said their new home truly serves as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. “It’s great to come here and see wildlife on our property and feel like you’re a part of the wilderness,” he said. “It’s very tranquil, and we spend a lot of time outdoors - hiking, boating, picnicking and riding our Polaris (4-wheeler). We’re really enjoying ourselves.” Article By: Kevin Donaldson Editors Note: Inez Price, Salesperson for Honest Abe Log Homes contributed to the content of this story. Photography By: Honest Abe Log Homes
May 2011
Stability is Key in Today’s Market
Today’s home market is much different than it was just a few short years ago. Many things have changed. The same can be said about the log home market. It’s an often changing landscape that can be a challenge for customers to keep track. In today’s environment, stability is just as important as the species of logs used or what materials are included in a package. Fortunately, Honest Abe remains the same company it’s been since its birth in 1979. We remain a family owned and operated business, still employing local residents of rural Tennessee. We haven’t re-organized or transferred ownership. We remain financially sound with our suppliers. We are a true manufacturer; not a marketing company that purchases log packages from independent mills for resale. You won’t find a lot of fancy talk or sales gimmicks. Honest Abe continues to stay true to its roots. We don’t stray from the formula that’s proven successful for the past 30 years; traditional core values and the commitment to quality products at a reasonable price. Diversity and knowledge are proven keys to stability. Our roots run deep in the wood industry. Besides log homes, our operations also include hardwood lumber manufacturing, hardwood lumber sales and distribution, mulch and soil mix production, manufacturing equipment sales, two real estate and housing developments, a lake resort and even a trucking company to ship our vast array of products. To showcase our variety of operations, we invite you to attend an upcoming log raising or open house here at our facility at Moss. You’ll witness first- hand the technology and, most important, the people that make our organization so special. Article By: Randy Fudge, President of Honest Abe Log Homes
Join Us For A Log Raising! These demonstrations allow you to see first-hand how an Honest Abe Log Home is built. We’ll show you how to stack the log walls, install beams and ceiling, and apply the roof system. Tour our manufacturing facility, and have the opportunity to speak with the people involved throughout the process. Honest Abe staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. So join us at our National Headquarters in Moss, Tennessee on May 14th or July 23rd, 2011. Seating is limited, so please call for more information and reservations at 800-231-3695. View a YouTube preview by clicking below!
May 2011
Conyer’s House “Coming Together” Tony Conyers house is coming together! The home was sold by Inez Price (Moss, Tennessee Rep) in March of 2009, and Tony began planning out the design of his home. After working with Melissa Copas in our design department and mapping out the package contents with Inez, Tony was ready to build! One of the features that is immediately eye-catching is the beautiful wrap around porch on the first floor and the basement. The exterior of the home is conventionally framed, an option with our homes, with log siding being used for the finished look. Walking inside the home, reveals the 4”x 8” Douglas Fir timbers used for his second floor and Honest Abe’s patented Heavy Timber Roof System that gives off the solid, secure feel of a log home. Tony and his builders erected the basement and the conventional structure all the way to the second floor. It was at this point they needed to call upon the expertise of an Honest Abe crew. Sledgehammer Construction, headed up by Crew Chief Ronnie Carter, came in to help out. Ronnie has been building Honest Abe Log Homes for almost 20 years. He and his crew installed the Heavy Timber Roof System, which caps off the house beautifully. Tony went with a very spacious floor plan design connecting the living room, dining area, and kitchen. It holds two bedrooms, two baths and has plenty of room for storage upstairs. Tony also used the steep slope of the hillside to his advantage by constructing a full basement complete with a two-car garage, living area, and a small storm shelter on the back. All in all, the house has a unique feel to it, and we look forward to seeing the finished product! Article By: Josh Watson: - Construction Coordinator for Honest Abe Log Homes
May 2011
Home of the Month: Lincoln The Lincoln is another new floor plan from Honest Abe. The home is drawn using our 8”x 8” Douglas Fir Timber Frame System, but can be built using any of our log home systems as well. The plan features 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, while leaving space for a loft and study in the 2,062 square feet of living space. The master bedroom is located on the first floor for easy access and includes a walk-in closet. Spacious front and back porches create great outdoor living areas. As with all of Honest Abe’s floor plans, this design can be modified to meet a customer’s preferences. For more information on this plan, or any other, contact your Honest Abe representative.
Memories of “The Legend” We all have memories from our childhood that we will never forget. Over time, the details of some become foggy, others become more grand than the truth, and still others are sketched in our memories like stone. I remember sitting outside on an old porch swing with my grandfather, counting cars as they went by. I also remember my grandmother making me coffee, all the while telling me it would stunt my growth. I stand well over 6’ tall today. Too bad I didn’t listen to her, I might of had a career in the NBA. Lastly, I recall Papa listening to WSM-AM in the evenings, especially during our summer camping trips. Worn out from playing in the lake and fishing, we would end the day sitting around a campfire. In the background, Papa would have an old radio playing, and it was always tuned to 650-AM, WSM. We would sit around, talk about the days events and listen to Papa tell old stories. On the radio, the Grand Ole Opry would be playing live and we listened in as country music legends would take the stage. I learned to appreciate tradition, and now that I have my own family, it’s one we still try to keep when we go camping. WSM-AM is “The Legend” because so many Americans have similar stories, and it is those cherished stories that can elevate something to legendary status. During the evening hours, the broadcast range of the 50,000 clear channel signal expands dramatically to include 38 states and Canada. As a result of this broad reach, many have nostalgic memories of family, friends and great music
May 2011
with a little AM static for good measure. One might think in an age of MP3 players and satellite radio, that an AM station like WSM would be a quickly fading giant. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The station remains the sole radio broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry. On a very regular basis, the station features country music legends and newcomers as guests and hosts. Having talent like that just “pop” in is something their smaller FM competitors could only dream of. In 2009 when the White House created a concert series to introduce children to various music styles, WSM was chosen to represent all of country music. With such a great line-up of talent, influence and an award winning staff, their ratings remain remarkably high. Now, fans of WSM are able to listen around the world with crystal clear sound via a online radio stream. When the opportunity for Honest Abe to be the sole sponsor for the Internet broadcast was presented, it was an obvious decision. Honest Abe has been associated with WSM for years, even sponsoring a portion of the Grand Ole Opry at one time. Eddie Stubbs, iconic announcer and DJ, has long been the “voice of Honest Abe.” Now, the WSM-AM Internet stream is brought to you by Honest Abe Log Homes. “The Legend” lives on, and we hope that each of you will listen in online, reliving old memories or building new ones. Article By: Joshua Beasley, Marketing Director for Honest Abe Log Homes
May 2011
Grilled Veggies! with Basil Vinaigrette
8 3 12 23
1/4 1 2 1/2 1/4 1/2 2
zucchini and yellow squash (4 of each), cut crosswise into slices 1/2-inch thick. bell peppers, cut into slices ounces fresh mushrooms, washed and dried Whisk vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt and pepper. Add oil slowly, stirasparagus spears, trimmed ring constantly. Add basil. Olive oil, salt and pepper Heat gas grill to medium high. Toss zucchini and squash with olive Basil Vinaigrette oil, add salt and pepper to taste. Grill with lid down for two minutes cup red wine vinegar and open for one minute. Remove. Follow the same process for the shallot, finely chopped peppers and mushrooms. Brush asparagus with olive oil and sprinteaspoons Dijon mustard kle with salt and pepper. Grill with lid down two minutes and one teaspoon salt minute with lid up. Remove. Arrange all vegetables on serving teaspoon pepper platter and drizzle with vinaigrette. cup olive oil tablespoons chopped fresh basil Recipe By: Anna Isenberg: - Accountant - Honest Abe Log Homes
Honest Abe Log Home Featured in Log Cabin Homes Magazine The July 2011 issue of Log Cabin Homes magazine features the home shown to the right. It is the customer’s second Honest Abe home. The magazine will go on shelves soon, and will be available through the month of June. More information about this home and the featured article will be available in the June issue of Honest Abe Monthly.