After anywhere from six months to two years, depending on their circumstances, the Ukrainian pioneers usually built their second home. The homes were built of interlocking logs and covered in whitewashed clay. The roof was covered in thatched straw and had overhanging eaves. There were two rooms that were joined by a small hall.

The pioneers often shared their homes with newly arrived immigrants. In the 1890's, Wasyl Zahara, living in the Stuartburn area, had four families living with his family.

(Wasyl and Anna Negrych came to Canada in 1897 and built the home above in 1899 near Venlaw in the Dauphin area of Manitoba.)

(The house above is located in the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village near Edmonton, Alberta.)

The furnishings in the two roomed homes were a major improvement from those in the burdei. There was often a cast iron stove as opposed to a clay oven. The bed was metal framed instead of rough hewn wood. There werer normal tables and chairs. One of the two rooms would have icons mounted on the walls, usually the east wall of the house. At last, the Ukrainian immigrant was again at home.