The Highland County Historical Society’s Log Cabin Cookout, a traditional late summer event for more than 20 years, will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 on the back lawn surrounding a historic log cabin behind the Highland House Museum in Hillsboro.
The event will feature a menu of ham and beans, cornbread, salad, dessert and drinks.
In addition, the event will feature the musical duo of Dave and Brenda Hardin performing during the dinner.
The cabin, originally built around 1830, will be open for viewing.
“With the current interest and popularity of the ‘small house’ movement, it is worth seeing how the original frontier small houses were constructed and functioned. The similarities might just surprise you,” the historical society said in a news release.
Recent additions to the cabin site include a hitching post and a stone walkway leading from the museum to the cabin, and the chinking between the logs has been repaired by local Boy Scout William Albert.
Following the dinner, at 6:30 p.m., an auction of various antiques and other collectibles will be held. Auctioneer Tim Koehl will preside with the assistance of Bob Brown, both trustees of the society. Proceeds from the auction will go toward the support of the museum.
Reservations for the dinner can be made by calling the museum office at 937-393-3392 by Monday, Sept. 11. Leave your name, phone number and the number of reservations requested.
There is no charge for the dinner, but a $10 donation per person is suggested.
In 1980, the log cabin was donated to the historical society by Curtis, Cinda and Cy Wilson. It was originally built by George Robinson along Mad River Road, about 2.5 miles from New Market.
During the 1990s, the cabin was disassembled and hauled to its current site behind the museum. Susie Sharp, president of the society at the time, kicked off a fundraiser with a letter to the membership to support a project to restore the cabin. South Central Power donated the cedar logs that were later used to make shingles for the roof. Reconstruction began during the Festival of the Bells as a log-raising event using skilled and unskilled workers.
Those who helped worked on the project during festival included Rick Cluxton, Jim Fisher, Doug Knight, John Young, Billy Pegan, Russ Roland, Jim Lukens, Jim Fisher Jr., Tim Barker, Bob Condo, Bill Cluxton, Rick Knight, Jeff Knight, Phil Cordell, Kent Chaney, Kim Chaney, Calvin Hoover, Andy Cluxton, Don Allen and Don Wright.
In 2002, Willa Stanforth initiated the refurbishing of the cabin interior 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 a proper floor for the ground floor and loft, donated his time, skill, material and labor to accomplish the task.
Others committing donations of needed items included Katie Wilkin; Robert Curtis; Virginia Bare; Margaret Van Frank; Jeannie Wilkerson; Willa, William and Kirby Stanforth; Ron Turpin; Cheryl and John Porter; and anonymous donors.
“The society is grateful for and appreciative of all efforts extended in restoring this important historic relic,” the news release said.
