Log Home Restoration in Alachua, FL

Log Homes in Alachua and the Newnansville Area

The town of Alachua began just up the road at a place that no longer exists. In 1826 a post office called "Dell's P.O." opened on the Bellamy Road, the first federal road in the new Florida Territory. In 1828 the settlement became the county seat and was named Newnansville. During the Second Seminole War, hundreds of displaced settlers took shelter there and at Fort Gilleland, a nearby military post built in 1836. In 1842 a U.S. land office opened in Newnansville so settlers could file claims without traveling to St. Augustine.

The railroads decided its fate. The county seat moved to the new railroad town of Gainesville in 1854. In 1884 the Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad bypassed Newnansville by about a mile and a half, and residents moved to the new town of Alachua beside the tracks. It incorporated in 1905 with 526 people. Cotton money built homes and brick stores on Main Street until the boll weevil hit in 1919–1920, and lumber and food processing took over after that. Today's log homes around Alachua, LaCrosse, Waldo and Newberry stand in the same farm and forest country the settlers cleared.

What Alachua's Climate Does to a Log Home

• Rain. A NOAA station between Alachua and Gainesville averages about 56½ inches of rain a year. August is the wettest month at about 8.4 inches, and June and July average about 7.6 inches each.
• Heat. About 101 days a year reach 90°F or more, and July highs average about 92°F.
• Freezes. About 20 nights a year drop to freezing, enough to widen checks where water has soaked in.
• Hurricane Helene (2024). Helene brought a 66 mph gust at the University of Florida and about four hours of tropical-storm-force winds, and tens of thousands of people in Alachua County lost power. In Bradford County, about 20 homes were damaged.
• The Santa Fe River. When the river rose to what the county called "unprecedented levels" after Irma in 2017, Alachua County listed the City of Alachua and LaCrosse among the affected communities.
• Termites. Native subterranean termites are found statewide. They need moisture, so wood that touches soil or stays damp is what they find.

What That Means for Your Log Home

Long, hot summers wear down the finish, especially on south- and west-facing walls. Heavy summer rain and the occasional freeze then work on any spot where the stain has failed. Keep the finish healthy with an annual log wash (soft brushes and a low-pressure rinse, never a pressure washer) and a UV protective coat every third year, as appropriate. Keep the bottom logs dry and clear of the soil, and keep mulch and plants pulled back so you can see the lower walls. If you find termite damage, call a licensed pest control company about any active termites. We repair the damaged logs and can apply a Borate treatment to help protect the wood afterward.

Related services: Staining & Refinishing · Termite & Insect Damage Repair · Maintenance Plans

Climate figures: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gainesville 11 WNW (temperature) and Gainesville 6.5 NW (rainfall). Storm details: NWS Jacksonville, Alachua County. History: Florida historical marker (Newnansville Town Site).