Fireplace Crane Wanted

A necessary part of the interior restoration is a swing-arm crane for the fireplace. Back in the day, the iron crane held one or more heavy pots over the fire. The swing arm allowed the crane to move away from the fire, out and over the hearth, so the contents of the pot could be stirred or removed without risk of injury to the cook.

As part of the project's overall scope, we plan to offer cooking demonstrations to future visitors to the cabin. Some time ago, a crane  was located and donated to the project. Unfortunately, it's poor condition makes it an unlikely restoration candidate. We are desparately seeking the donation of another crane to the cabin fireplace. Anyone with information on a swing-arm crane (antique dealers and collectors, take note!), please contact the Goshen Twp. Historical Society.   

Status Update November 13, 2009

In order to rebuild the cabin's foundation (with as much original material as possible), it was first necessary to disassemble the entire structure. Each log was carefully numbered and catalogued. The stonework was completed and the job of rebuilding the cabin began. We are finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel on this project. You can see a the whole process in pictures on our Web site's Cook Log House page. Our continued thanks to Ken and Judy Klosterman (project management and interior design/restoration, respectively, Rick and Edna Rhodes for managing the photo documentation of the project, and to the Goshen Township Historical Society members and so many wonderful area volunteers who have worked so hard and in so many areas of this project. The restoration phase of this project is being done by Antique American Log Cabins.

The work is far from over. Please continue to follow our progress in the Cook Log House Blog. To volunteer or contribute funding, please contact us.

Civil War in Goshen?

Maybe, if Goshen Township Historical Society President Jim Poe has his way. Jim has invited Captain Mike Davis of the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry to stage a civil war encampment on the site of the planned Marr Educational Center at Cook Farm. As followers of this blog know, the former Cook Farm (next to Goshen High School) is the location of the Cook Log House, restoration of which is well underway. In fact, the proposed encampment would be a highlight of the 2010 inaugural year for this Marr Cook Educational Center at Cook Farm. It is hoped that, by such time, visitors could not only observe a reenactment of life in a civil war encampment, but also tour the completely restored Cook Log House.

The Cook Farm is, indeed, an ideal place for an encampment. The site offers both open and wooded area along O'Bannon Creek, as well as blacktop parking for visitors. This would be a unique opportunity for Civil War buffs, history lovers in general, and especially students. Let's hope Captain Mike Davis will answer the call and bring his troops to Goshen in 2010. Goshen citizens and business owners; start thinking now on ways you can support and benefit from such an event. We can start by signing the Guest Book on the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry Web site and use the comments field to invite the group to Goshen. Let's work together to bring this unique experience to Goshen Township.

By the way, did you know that Goshen had its own company in the Civil War? We sure did, and the company's flag is on display at the GTHS's Museum known as The Anchorage on SR 28. Click here for museum hours and tour opportunities.   

GTHS President Gives State of the Union (or State of the Cabin) Address

Goshen Twp. Historical Society President Jim Poe gives an update on the Cook Log House Restoration Project.

Antique American Log Cabins, the restoration company selected by the Society, has completed several phases of the process so this is a good time to bring everone up to date on the project.

 

First, with the tremendous help of the local citizens/volunteers, the major demolition of the add on structures and the siding removal was completed.

 

After a long research time on different ways to "attack" the project, including travel to Tranquility, Ohio to witness a cabin restoration project where individual logs were replaced by jacking up different sections of the structure, it was decided to have the Cook cabin totally "un-stacked" and to rebuild the structure with the existing good logs and replacements for the rotted logs.

 

Mr. Ken Klosterman was appointed by the board to direct and oversee the project. At that time, a restoration professional Antique American Log Cabins of Athens, Ohio was retained to complete the majority of the project.

 

Over the past two weeks the cabin was "tagged" and taken down log by log. A crawl space was excavated, modern concrete footers were poured, a block foundation was laid and was capped with stone. The stone is the only visible part of the new foundation. A new sub floor was put down over manufactured floor joists. This "modern" construction will not be visible after completion.

 

This past weekend, Saturday October 3rd through Monday October 5th, the logs were "re-stacked" and the cabin was topped off with the last logs late this afternoon. The cabin crew will be leaving our site for the next couple of weeks to complete a project currently underway in North Carolina. This will give us time to catch our breaths and to make some decisions for the next phases. 

• We will probably go with a metal roof. That style and material does relate to the second roof on the cabin...probably mid-1800's. A shake roof is horribly expensive and would add an estimated $4000.00 to $6000.00 to the project.
• Fireplace and chimney size and design. We will have the new chimney and fireplace constructed of stone. Some from the property, some imported from Brown County and some that was purchased specifically for the project. The fireplace will be a large cooking-style with a crane.
• The rear addition. As we "dug into" the project it soon became apparent that the lean-to addition was not original to the structure, mainly because we are almost 100% sure that the cabin was moved to the present spot from the other side of O'Bannon Creek. We are in the process of attempting to locate the original foundation. It is being considered at this time to re-deck this area over the existing cellar and to construct a porch roof over the deck for the time being with a possible enclosure at a later date.

I realize that this is a long explanation but we really want to keep the Society, the media and the community as updated as possible. Thanks to all who have helped, donated and, mostly, to those who have kept prodding.  The Crown Jewel of the Cook Farm will be a great asset to our children and to our community.

 

If you would like to support the Cook Log House project or the Goshen Township Historical Society, contact  goshenhistory@fuse.net 

 

  

Trivia Bites

The Cook Log House was built in 1803-04, a period of great change and innovation in both America and around the world. Here is a little 1803-1804 history trivia to give you some perspective:

1803

• Ohio becomes the 17th state
• First performance of Beethoven's 2nd Symphony in D
• The reaping machine is patented and revolutionizes farming
• First public library opens (Connecticut)
• US doubles in size following the Louisiana purchse

1804

• The first locamotive was run in Wales
• Thomas Jefferson was relected President
• Louis & Clark set out from St. Louis for the Pacific coast
• Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emporer of France
• Ohio University (Athens) is chartered as the first US land grant college
• Congress orders the removal of Indians east of the Mississipi to Louisiana

JUNE 27: WORK DAY SCHEDULED

A few strong backs and some shovels are need for a couple of hours Saturday June 27 from 9:30am at the log house restoration site next to Goshen High School. Our goal is to prepare the log house footers for next Saturday's project, which will be to raise the structure on jacks. Once the log house is leveled and we have assembled the stones (see earlier post) we can begin to replicate the fireplace.

We have benefited greatly from the tremendous efforts of Elbin and his friends from Kentucky. They will not be here this weekend, but will be returning 4th of July weekend. It would be great if we could accomplish some of this grunt work so the site is prepared for "cabin raising" when Elbin returns next week. We also still need to finish moving and sorting stones from old retaining wall to be reused in the new fireplace, and clean up help at the site is always welcome.

Can't make it Saturday? Visit the Goshen Township Historical Society Web site to learn more ways you can help with this project. We need your support and have prepared a list of volunteer opportunities for every age, skill and schedule.

Amidst All the Hard Work, Exciting Discoveries

As the hard work continues, some exciting discoveries and milestones have been met!

While on a visit to to a friend's farm in Kentucky, honorary project coach Ken Klosterman discovered an old iron fireplace arm (sometimes called a crane) used for hanging cooking pots over the fire (similar to photo at left). His host graciously donated the fireplace arm to our project. This tool will help us realize the dream of providing pioneer cooking demonstrations for visitors when the log house is finished. Thanks to Ken and his friend Charles for this donation.

An old retaining wall of dry-laid stone has been uncovered in the area planned for a patio. This stone will be repurposed for the reconstructed fireplace, once that design plan has been finalized. Help is needed to move the stones closer to the wall inside which the fireplace will be built.

Brick from the 1950's era chimney will be reused in a memorial walkway. Engraved bricks may be purchased to commemorate a loved one or simply as a show of support for this wonderful grass roots project.

The original planned expense of this project was $150,000. Lack of corporate funding or grants might have sidelined this project for years, if not for the can-do attitude of a small band of Goshen residents and friends. Tremendous progress has been made and our cost to date stands at $4,000!

There is still so much to do. Will you help? You do not need to be a carpenter to be involved. We need volunteers for so many facets of this project: cutting the grass at the site, making phone calls to organize work weekends, securing loans of equipment, catering lunch and drinks to the job site, sponsoring temporary electric line to the job site, fundraising, debris and clean up at the site, selling memorial bricks... If you want to help in any way, please contact us at goshenhistory@fuse.net.

Progress Update

Elbin, our friend and number one volunteer from KY, has been making tremendous progress on on his repeated work weekend. On his last trip, he "shot" the structure to see how level it is. Turns out, our house leans 11" to the front and 4" toward the high school next door. This is significantly more than we thought (although Elbin always maintained the house would not be level) and, unfortunately, means the additional work of leveling the whole house must be done. At this point the plan is to dig down at the front corners of the house and (hopefully) find good footers. The least expensive route will be to lift the front elevation of the house 11" using steel plates and jacks. This also raises a recurring need for bottle jacks. If someone is willing to loan or donate 4 jacks, we would greatly appreciate it.

Next steps for volunteers:

1. Elbin will use a backhoe to tear up the old floor from one of the demolished add-on wings to reach the stone discovered underneath that will ultimately be repurposed for the recreated fireplace.
2. We need help moving the stones closer to the job site for the fireplace reconstruction. The stones are not heavy but there are a lot to be moved.
3. The last of the debris from the demo projects needs to be collected and put in the dumster so we can have it emptied and sent back. This is important because the the job site needs to be cleared and the dumpster is rented at a daily charge.
4. We need to obtain quotes for laying the new cement patio. We had hoped a volunteer would appear to take on the job of putting in the patio, but it appears now we will have to shoulder that expense, so getting quotes is required. This can be done by anyone willing to contact some professionals.

To help, please contact goshenhistory@fuse.net

Urgent Need for Fieldstone

As work progresses on the log house an urgent need has persented itself. If you or someone you know can donate fieldstone to the project please contact Ken Klosterman at kenklosterman@gmail.com

Thank You, Price Woods!

Thanks to Price Woods, Snider Road in Goshen, for the generous donation of logs and for visitng the restoration site to check on the progress of the project.