Dowse Riverview Homestead & Dowse Sod House - Comstock, Nebraska

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Dowse Riverview Homestead & Dowse Sod House - Comstock, Nebraska

Custer County is the sod house capital of the world. 

The area is home to this original soddy which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Furnished with period pieces and even the original plow which cut the soil. The Dowse Homestead was the first one in Custer County.

Sod houses were built in areas where the right type of grass was available such as buffalo grass, little blue stem or wire grass, prairie cord grass, Indian grass or wheat grass.  It was necessary to have the right grass type to fuse the soil together to hold.

Originally the grass was cut with a spade, but as technology came into play the "breaker" or "grasshopper" were used which cut the sod into 12 inch wide and 4 inch deep with this type of plow.  The strips were then cut into 3 foot lengths.

In laying the sod bricks, the builder placed them lengthwise, making a wall two feet thick. The process was reversed every few layers — the bricks were laid alternately lengthwise and crosswise to bind the walls, and to make them solid. All sod was laid with the grass side down.

Wooden door frames were set in place as the wall construction began. Window frames of wood were positioned when the wall reached the proper height. Sod was laid around the sides and on top of boards placed above the window frame. A gap, left at the top above the frame, was filled with rags or grass, which allowed the sod to settle without crushing the glass panes in the window. Pegs, driven into the sod through holes in the frames, held them in place. A variety of materials was were used, depending on the locality and the finances of the builder. Cedar logs, when available, were used as ridge poles because they were rot-resistant and strong.

A better roof could be made with sawed lumber, but that increased the cost of the soddy. Lumber roofs consisted of a combination of 2×6’s for a ridge post, 2×4’s for rafters, and wood sheathing nailed over the rafters. Many of the roofs were covered with sod cut somewhat thinner than that used in the side walls. Tar paper in between the sheathing and the sod helped cut down the number of leaks. But the best roofs were shingled.

If you study this type of home you will find that many of the homeowners had canopy beds, the canopy was used to stop the dirt and bugs from falling from the roof onto the sleeping people on the bed.

The kitchen was similar to the one in the picture and there was always a love for music in the house.  It was lonely in the prairie and the music was a form of enjoyment for the family and visitors alike.

Phone:(308) 215-0365

The Dowse Homestead was the first one in Custer County. River activities, camping and nature trails. Dowse Concert every July featuring music and singing. Guided tours available year-round by appt. Donation. 308-215-0365 or 308-628-4231

Our thanks to Marilyn Weidner for the pictures!