How About Living in a Stump? / myLot

Boise, Idaho

January 5, 2026 4:08pm CST

The trees in old growth forests, before the millions were wiped out, were hundreds of feet tall with gnarled bases and trunks that measured 20 feet across. When settlers moved into the cleared forestland, they had many giant stumps to contend with. Many were removed by dynamite or fire while still others were repurposed. The stumps had soft wood interiors, sometimes even hollow. It was easy to carve out the center of a stump and turn it into a barn, a post office or even a home. The Lennstrom Stump house in Edgecomb, Washington is the most famous of these stump houses. Three adults and three children lived in the cedar stump. This 22 feet in diameter giant was severely damaged in 1946 by fire but an 18 foot one is still on display outside Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum just miles from Edgecomb.

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9 responses

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (322493)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

6 Jan

Very interesting. I never thought about living in a stump.

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (187014)

• Boise, Idaho

7 Jan

Who would think of it?

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (322493)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

7 Jan

@celticeagle Someone always does.

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celticeagle

@celticeagle (187014)

• Boise, Idaho

7 Jan

@just4him ......Someones thinking.

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LindaOH

@LindaOHio (217088)

• United States

6 Jan

I had never heard of stump houses. Thank you for the info. BTW, you wrote "trumps" in the second paragraph. Freudian slip? lolol

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celticeagle

@celticeagle (187014)

• Boise, Idaho

7 Jan

Probably just what happened. Thanks for letting me know. I wish he would go away.

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LindaOH

@LindaOHio (217088)

• United States

8 Jan

@celticeagle I think his days are numbered.

snowy

@snowy22315 (204937)

• United States

5 Jan

Reminds me of The Hobbit, I am sure many of the druids lived in stumps, maybe even some of my ancestors;

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snowy

@snowy22315 (204937)

• United States

7 Jan

@celticeagle Yes, if my grandmother was any indication...She was about 4'8/..but all my other relatives are tall...my mom is actually on the short side, but not like that.

celticeagle

@celticeagle (187014)

• Boise, Idaho

7 Jan

They were small though weren't they?

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@DaddyEvil (170562)

• United States

5 Jan

I would try that... When I was younger, at least. I always loved the fictional story called "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead. We had a treehouse in a tree by one of the ponds and I'd stay in it at night during the summer when I was in my early teens. As long as I told mom what I was doing, she'd let me sleep out there... Sometimes even bringing me midnight snacks. She'd stand at the foot of the tree and say my name... If I answered her, she'd climb the tree and talk/eat until I fell asleep and then she'd go back to the house. I could see across the farm and talk to the horses and cows that came to the pond to drink. It was a good place for a kid.

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celticeagle

@celticeagle (187014)

• Boise, Idaho

7 Jan

Same here. It would be quite an adventure FOR AWHILE. I take after my mom. She always was climbing trees. Neat that your mom let you sleep in the treehouse.

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@DaddyEvil (170562)

• United States

7 Jan

@celticeagle Yeah, once I started missing my own bed and the indoor bathroom, I'd have to go home.