Log Cabin Cookout, program held at Highland House
The Highland County Historical Society held their 20th Log Cabin Cookout on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., followed by a program at 7 p.m. and an auction of items from the Chaney Estate.
A delicious bean and ham dinner was served.
Society President Mike McCarty discussed the restoration of the back wall of the Highland House Museum.
The program also included historian Gary Kersey of Wilmington speaking on Abraham Lincoln as president and the Civil War.
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Lowell Chambers presided over an auction of several items from the Chaney Estate.
The log cabin was originally built around 1830 by George Robison along Mad River Road, about two and a half miles from New Market. The house was donated to the Society by the Curtis Wilson family in 1980.
In 1990, under the direction of Rick Cluxton, it was disassembled and hauled to the site behind the Highland House museum. A fundraiser was kicked off by the HCHS, and society members as well as community members and businesses responded.
Cedar logs which would be made into shingles for the roof were donated by Southern Ohio Power. Reconstruction began during the Festival of the Bells as a "Log Raising" event using skilled and unskilled volunteers.
In 2002, Willa Stanforth initiated the refurbishing of the interior of the cabin by dedicating the proceeds of her book, "Faded Glory," to the project. Members followed her example with monetary and physical contributions. Elmer Wilkerson, seeing the need for proper flooring for the ground floor and the loft, generously donated his time, skill, material and labor to accomplish this tremendous task.