Located right on the side of Swedesboro Road in Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, the Nothnagle Cabin obviously sticks out from the modern homes across the street and the new school and township library next door.

The Finnish-made log cabin, built between 1638 and 1643, is one of the oldest surviving cabins in the United States and was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Harry and Doris Rink have been caring for the cabin, while living in a newer part of the structure that was built in the early 1900s.

Here are a few things you might not know about Nothnagle Cabin:

1. Repairs to Nothnagle Cabin are done by hand by Harry Rink using clay he dug up from a Salem County Farm.

In an attempt to be as true to the history of the structure as possible, the Rinks use deep New Jersey dirt to repair cracks in the wood, and it is not an easy process.

The last time the Rinks had to do these repairs was about 20 years ago, but they've begun again this summer. While they used to use clay from the neighboring Nehaunsey Creek, the area has become too flooded, so they had to find the right type of dirt, which they identified in Salem County.

He then dug up gallons of the dirt and had a lengthy process of working, filtering and mixing the dirt with water to make it the right consistency for repairs.

"I put the clay in water and I stir it," Rink said. "It's no easy job, really. It's awfully hard to do."

2. While originally thought to be built by Swedish immigrants, the construction tells the story of a Finnish builder.

The cabin's original logs are all intact but one, which had to be replaced do to damage from ivy. Those logs are all constructed in what is called a "full dove-tail" — meaning the corners are carved in an angled manner as to make sure they cannot come apart. This is a telling point, as the Finns were known to use dovetailed construction, according to the Rinks. The cabin's fireplace is also evident of Finnish construction, as it is built with the chimney inside the structure, providing extra warmth.

3. The original part of the cabin was once used for making dairy products and meat cutting.

The cabin was part of a farm and when the newer part of the building was used as a home, the older part was used as a workroom.

Doris Rink has located milk bottle stoppers with the Nothnagle name on them, which can be seen at the cabin.

4. Visits to Nothnagle Cabin are free, and will be as long as the Rinks own it.

Harry and Doris Rink have a lot of pride in their home. Harry Rink started working on the structure in the 1940s when his aunt and uncle owned the place.

"I got a liking to the cabin," he said.

In 1968 he bought the building and looks forward to showing it to those interested in history.

He says he'll talk for hours about it if you want, and enjoys doing it. The couple will give tours to anyone interested because they want to let as many people know about the important history as possible.

"All of your history books in school begin with the Revolutionary War," Doris Rink said. "This is the 17th century. It's before the history books. When people come here they walk away with more."

5. Tours of Nothnagle Cabin have occasionally been held at very odd times and you're never sure what you're going to get.

Officially the cabin is open for tours through appointment, but the Rinks don't like to turn people away. In fact, they never have. They have given at least one tour at 2 a.m. when a tour bus heading from New England to Florida made a detour to drive by the historic structure.

"This place is here for anyone who wants to learn," said Doris, who especially likes to bring children through the building.

"It's really good to get children to step back in time and see it wasn't always so cushy," she added.

At just 16 by 22 feet, the original part of Nothnagle Cabin most likely held a family with as many as six children.

One individual even got a free lunch with his visit, according to the Rinks.

A writer from Allentown wanted to stop by and get a feel of what it was like to live in the late 1600s. When he asked for a local lunch spot, Doris Rink just had him continue to soak up the atmosphere and served him and her husband a few sandwiches.

"Every day is a new adventure and new learning," she said.

6. The Rinks know they won't be around forever, but they want to make sure whoever cares for Nothnagle in the future have the same respect for it that they have.

At 85, Harry Rink knows this will probably be the last time he's digging up clay and fixing cracks in the cabin, and he isn't sure what will happen to the building when he's gone.

He and his wife want to make sure that someone who cares as much as they do take over one day though.

"If you don't have the love and joy and understanding of the place, you don't get the joy of working on it," Doris Rink said. "I hope it always remains accessible to people who want to see it. I hope people respect it."

The Nothnagle Cabin is located at 406 Swedesboro Road, Gibbstown. The Rinks can be reached at 856-423-0916.

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@southjerseymedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.