A new one for me - any ideas?

Inspected an 1880 shotgun, barge board framing, pier and beam construction. There was a wire cable stretched between the two side sills, in about the middle of the house, and clamped on both ends. It was inserted through a drilled hole in each sill.

I inspect a lot of old houses and have never seen anything like this before. Any ideas?

Photos of house and cable: All original architectural details of the house have been long removed.


I have seen that here in earthquake country to help hold an older house together. I would not have expected it there in your area, but on second thought, why not with hurricane and tornado winds?

Possible that the house was moved to that location or relocated on site.