sod houses on the prairie - classroom.jc-.ppt

Sod Houses on the PrairieReadingOctober 5, 2001By Terry SamsHow it All Started:?When the first settlers entered the Red River Valley of northern Dakota they were greeted by a sea of grass, waving in the wind, which extended across the territory. Although not a tree would obstruct their view for miles, it also meant that building shelter would not be easy without logs and lumber. The earliest settlers claimed the land along the few wooded rivers and streams, which provided timber for log homes and wood for fuel. But land near the rivers was quickly taken, and those who came next had to settle on the treeless prairie. Lumber was expensive to buy and not readily available. The prairie did, though, provide an