Life in the soddy was a challenge. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Although the roof was stable the heavy rains of the summer would cause the roof and walls to drip mud onto anything in the soddy. The soddy was furnished with just the basics. There was a stove with a barrel chimney, a small bed, and a few family possessions.  After five years of living in these cramped quarters, Heman started construction on a cabin above ground.

 In 1995 the Ramsey County Historical Society sponsored an archaeological excavation of the original soddy. The excavation was conducted by the Wilford Archaeological Laboratory of the University of Minnesota. The goal of the project was to determine the location and actual size of the soddy and see what information could be determined by any objects left behind.
 

Archaeologists were able to determine the original location and size of the soddy. Along with the structure, archaeologist found a number of artifacts left behind when the Gibbs family moved into their log cabin. These artifacts include buttons, ceramics, nails, coins, and other objects.