I have done a little more research on this, but it has shed no light on the mysterious NLCR version. The Traditional Ballad Index quotes some of the lyrics of the NLCR version [and references Cohen/Seeger/Wood] of 'Hold the wood pile down' as its only offering, but gives no specific recording date apart from Uncle Dave Macon 'in the 1920s'. I would like to hear that version from Uncle Dave - if it exists. If it does not, it would make one wonder about people writing about song versions that they have not actually listened to. However, it has this interesting note about the cross-reference to 'Roll the woodpile down':

CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Roll the Woodpile Down" (chorus) Notes: This song is a conundrum. The verses are pure minstrel (Uncle Dave played minstrel shows in his youth), but the chorus is almost identical to that of "Roll the Woodpile Down", a chanty from African-American riverboat workers: "Rolling, rolling/Yes, rolling the whole world around/That brown gal of mine's down the Georgia line/And we'll roll the woodpile down." Other versions of "Hold the Woodpile Down" say, "Black gals shine on the Georgia line", which is closer to the chanty form. -PJS I'll admit that I would have classified this as a "Dave Macon-ised" version of "Roll the Woodpile Down" -- but Paul has probably examined the matter more than I have. - RBW

Stewie.