Original Roof Beams
The width of every room and porch in this area and era was set by the length of a beam that could be obtained from a certain tree that is very resistant to termites. Not many original beams are left because they must be kept dry to be termite resistant. After the mines stopped producing and the revolution in 1910 most of the homes were abandoned, the roofs leaked and the beams rotted. It was not until the early 1940's that Americans started to restore these homes. The trees are now protected and cannot be cut down. Treated wood, concrete beams or steel is now used to replace the original beams.