History Culture Architecture Germans from Russia Housing
Construction The following electronic message was received from
Arthur E. Park, California, sent to Sharon Leigh at the
University of Indiana. 15 September 2005 Since lumber was
apparently more plentiful along the Volga River, I am not aware
that they used sod as a building material which was common Black
Sea Area. I clearly recall my mother describing their method of
preparing with straw to give it stability and letting it dry for
a given period of time until it became very firm. It was then
cut into approximately 6x10 blocks and stacked for drying. It
when it had become nearly as hard as rocks, ready for use as
building material. This process was called the "batzen" which is
a German word for clumps of mud. After was completed in house
form, it would be white washed, giving it a very satisfactory
appearance. Incidentally, the floors were also of hardened clay
soil which could be swept and was very commonly with fine river
sand on Saturdays. It would r