While the nonprofit says that the siding is historically accurate, and a way to help further preserve logs that cannot be duplicated, many residents say they would prefer to maintain the symbolic nature of the historic cabin with exposed logs, and seek other preservation solutions.
“It is a log cabin, it should stay a log cabin,” said Hamilton resident Donald Hershner during the Audience of Citizens portion of the council meeting. Hershner’s family helped move the cabin from Ross Avnue, where it was originally discovered under clapboard siding in 1964, to its current spot next to the Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument.
His brother, Darrell Hershner, displayed a framed picture of the log cabin as it was discovered by his father in 1964. His father then donated the cabin to the county for historic preservation and maintenance.
“We have decided to put siding on the log cabin, and it’s no longer a log cabin,” he said. “The intent is to show the log cabin that the people of Butler County have as a pride in the city of Hamilton to represent early settlers’ times.”
Jim Fuhrman, president of Historic Hamilton, Inc., also spoke at the meeting and out of the seven speakers, was the sole voice in support of the siding. He explained that the log cabin was covered up when it was first discovered in 1964, which helped keep the logs in such fine condition for all of that time.
“I think we need to start by reflecting on exactly what it is that we have,” he said “For its first 160 years, the building’s logs survived in excellent condition…One glance at the stack of rotted original logs at the job site leaves no doubt about how the cabin has fared over the last 50 years.”
Hamilton resident Lowell Bower said that if it’s a matter of money, he was willing to support whatever efforts were needed and would spearhead a drive to raise the funds.
“Bottom line is, we want the siding removed, the logs to remain in clear view, and to find an alternate way to preserve these logs,” he said.
Bob Scherwin of Historic Hamilton, Inc, told the Journal-News Friday that a similar debate over whether to apply siding to the cabin played out in 1964, and the decision was made to keep the log cabin exposed.
“When they reassembled it here, they debated over what to do, and the Rentschlers (who helped fund the move and preservation efforts) were recommending that it be covered,” he said. “There was some disagreement, but they moved to leave it exposed, and now we’re paying the price for it.”
The $80,000 project began last fall by the Franklin-based firm Architectural Restoration, and is funded by Metroparks of Butler County, the Hamilton Community Foundation, and funds raised by Historic Hamilton, Inc. Fuhrman told the Journal-News that MetroParks’ portion of the funding paid for the new roof, the replacement of the the rotted logs, and putting siding on the outside, while the amount raised by Historic Hamilton will pay for windows, doors, and fireplace restoration. The Hamilton Community Foundation also contributed to the project.
MetroParks representatives have not returned calls or emails for comment by the Journal-News. Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller said at the council meeting that he expects them to attend a future meeting to speak about the log cabin.
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