“What struck me, seeing these cabin ruins, is how very small the cabins were - basically one room with a stone chimney.”
When I bought my other farm there was a Homestead House in the far corner of the property. It was just as you described, but it was built into the side of the hill with a stone foundation - where they kept a cow and a pig and some chickens. They lived there while building ‘the big house’ which was a basic 4-square colonial. Such luxury!
Quite practical, actually - one room, one fireplace, and the heat rising from the animals below you. (Not to mention the smells, LOL!)
The global warming rising upfront the animals below kept em warm lol
Not that I would want to actually “live” with my animals, but there’s nothing quite like going to the barn in the morning and seeing the horses’ heads over the stall doors, white frosty air coming out of their nostrils and hearing their “good morning” nickers. The smell of hay, horse feed, the horses themselves and yes, even the manure .... nothing quite like it and I mean that in a good way. I miss it. :-)