Leaning log cabin

[pmbiker]

I have this cool old cabin maybe 60' behind my house. The original homestead on the property. I can't find any records but construction style appears to be Civil War era. It's solid, but listing to port something fierce.

Currently wrapped in barn wood siding and somewhat of an eyesore.....but in an interesting way. It would be very cool fully restored and functional. It would also take a lot of work and a professional to level it up.

It could also be quite lucrative, I'd imagine, to have it disassembled and sell the giant hand hewn beams it's made from.

What say you?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I have this cool old cabin maybe 60' behind my house. The original homestead on the property. I can't find any records but construction style appears to be Civil War era. It's solid, View attachment 189733 but listing to port something fierce.

Currently wrapped in barn wood siding and somewhat of an eyesore.....but in an interesting way. It would be very cool fully restored and functional. It would also take a lot of work and a professional to level it up.

It could also be quite lucrative, I'd imagine, to have it disassembled and sell the giant hand hewn beams it's made from.

What say you?

I feel like I just read this in another post. Deja vu all over again...

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Would you have a use for it if you were to have it restored (ie. removing the siding and putting it back to its original log cabin state)?

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

You could sell it to one of those guys that take them apart and reassemble them elsewhere a la Barnwood Builders.

 

[Jaybird1980]

Is the bottom row on the one side rotted?

If you don't plan on redoing the chinking then I would think leaving the wood on the outside is what's protecting the logs.

I wouldn't think raising the one side would be terrible as long as the other sides are good.

 

[pmbiker]

No real use for it. Lots of potential storage space but I don't have a shortage of that.

I've poked around the bottom rows. All sides seem to be soft on the outside.....not sure if rotten all the way through though. I think you're right about the siding. The original logs might even be in questionable condition underneath. Chinking inside is mostly present but cracked and broken.

 

[pmbiker]

Southwest corner showing construction.

 

[Lmo1131]

There is an organization in Indiana that documents pioneer structures

Here's the website >> https://www.indianabarns.org/

In certain cases grant money is available for restoration projects >> https://www.indianabarns.org/grants

If you would like to contact them about your structure go here > https://www.indianabarns.org/contact

A friend in Bedford submitted this one.

 

[stocknup]

I have this cool old cabin maybe 60' behind my house. The original homestead on the property. I can't find any records but construction style appears to be Civil War era. It's solid, View attachment 189733 but listing to port something fierce.

Currently wrapped in barn wood siding and somewhat of an eyesore.....but in an interesting way. It would be very cool fully restored and functional. It would also take a lot of work and a professional to level it up.

It could also be quite lucrative, I'd imagine, to have it disassembled and sell the giant hand hewn beams it's made from.

What say you?

Would like to see more of the Log photos ........

View attachment 189735
Southwest corner showing construction.

Would like to see more of the original logs ......I would salvage if possible .
We live in a cabin that was rebuilt from logs from the 1870`s ........I love just knowing the history that it has .

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

There is an organization in Indiana that documents pioneer structures

Here's the website >> https://www.indianabarns.org/

In certain cases grant money is available for restoration projects >> https://www.indianabarns.org/grants

If you would like to contact them about your structure go here > https://www.indianabarns.org/contact

A friend in Bedford submitted this one.

View attachment 189762

That's way cool, Lmo. Any web location where I can learn more about that?

 

[***Ironhead***]

There is an organization in Indiana that documents pioneer structures

Here's the website >> https://www.indianabarns.org/

In certain cases grant money is available for restoration projects >> https://www.indianabarns.org/grants

If you would like to contact them about your structure go here > https://www.indianabarns.org/contact

A friend in Bedford submitted this one.

View attachment 189762

In my opinion that building is priceless. The history, the craftsmanship and the cool factor alone just make it irreplaceable in my eyes. Like a lot of things in this screwed up world we live in things like this need preserved.

 

[Jeepster48439]

I would restore it. Doesn't look like it would be too difficult.

 

[actaeon277]

Could strengthen the bottoms, dig, and jack it up.

 

[pmbiker]

Thank you all for your input. LMO, I'll definitely look into that organization and the grant process, thank you.

I can snap a couple more pictures this afternoon if it's not too nasty weather.

 

[Ironhippie]

Looks like an old summer kitchen. Really cool. If you havent yet I'd get a metal detector and check out all around your place.

 

[jake blue]

If you're not interested in restoring it at least contact one of the organizations that would be interested so they can disassemble, relocate and restore it. These are historic old structures even if they're not in their original locations.

 

[CHCRandy]

In my opinion that building is priceless. The history, the craftsmanship and the cool factor alone just make it irreplaceable in my eyes. Like a lot of things in this screwed up world we live in things like this need preserved.

AMEN! Look at the craftsmanship in them inner locking log joints! It would cost you $100 in labor, per log, to have todays "craftsmen" butcher them together. Love how they made the logs lock together on the ends....I have personally never seen it done like that. Awesome old history there.....I am simply amazed at what the old timers accomplished with the tools they had.

 

[Creedmoor]

I would restore it. Doesn't look like it would be too difficult.

Go in it with some cables and big turnbuckles.
Time and pressure.

 

[gregkl]

My son-in-law has a 100+ year old huge barn on his property. It is in way rougher shape than that and he's working on a plan to shore up the foundation. He has talked to a group (may be one mentioned upthread) about grants but I don't know where he is at on it.

If that building was mine, I'd try to figure out how to level it up, make a solid foundation and restore it. That is a cool little building.

 

[Tactically Fat]

I say that you just look at it from the other side - then it'll be listing starboard.

Do that often enough it'll balance itself out.