Once upon a time, Moravian missionary George Zeisloff came from Germany and settled in the wild frontier of Eastern Pennsylvania. He built a log home - interlocking logs and filling in the cracks with a clay-and-horse-hair paste - and started a family. Within 20 years, during the French and Indian War, George and the majority of his family (a wife and three kids) were killed by Native Americans.

For almost 10 years of my life, I lived on a winding scenic road in New Tripoli named Zeisloff Road, the location of the Zeisloff Log House where the family perished more than 250 years ago. Compared to what the Zeisloffs went through, the most "dangerous" thing to ever happen on my hometown street was being snowed in during the blizzard of '96. Jeez, I had it easy.

The original Zeisloff Log House still exists today in Ontelaunee Park in New Tripoli. Right next door you'll find a replica of Fort Everett, another log structure built with the help of Ben Franklin back around the same time the Zeisloffs came to town. As far as I know, the buildings are only open during the Pioneer Days celebration in October, but because they're located in a public park, you can peak through the windows any other time.

So after the snow stops falling and the roads are clear, why not get out of the house and check out the Zeisloff log house and Fort Everett. While you're in the area, there's the Stanley Log House and the Frederick Leaser Log Cabin too (these are privately owned properties on the Lehigh County Log Cabin Trail, so no peaking in these windows). Happy trails!