Three men stand in front of a log. The man on the left uses a double-bitted axe. The man in the center uses a broad axe. L-R: Roe Mann (of Enka section), Montford Mease (of Enka section), Pail Scoggins (of Brevard Road)
The original fireplace stands alone after the old Vance house had been deconstructed. Men stand to the right of the fireplace, which provides a kind of scale.
Four men work on the first story of the reconstructed Vance house. The two men to the right appear to be sawing logs, and the men to the center-left appear to be placing those logs. The original fireplace is visible to the left.
This is an example of a style of cabin architecture known as saddlebag. It is characterized by a fireplace in the center of the structure, with rooms on either side of it.