The Log Cabin Revisited

With the Creemore Log Cabin’s Grand Opening scheduled for Saturday, October 29 at 10:30 am, this is a good opportunity to look back at how it was resurrected.

The cabin was built in the early to mid 1870s on five acres of land running south from George Street along Mary Street to the Mad River, on the very eastern edge of Creemore. This lot was purchased by Henry Mathers for $250 and Mathers owned the property until 1909. In 1880 James Scarrow, his wife Abigail, his widowed mother and nine children moved from Lavender to Creemore and rented the cabin for the next twenty-seven years.

In 1910 the cabin was rented by Joseph Veitch, a widower with two daughters. One daughter, Hazel, married Robert Shaw and the Shaw family continued to live in the cabin. Eventually their son Marlyn became the sole occupant until he went to the Creedan Valley Nursing Home in 2004.

After 1909 the ownership of the cabin changed hands several times until it was bought by the Shaws in 1921. Most of the 5 acres were also severed, leaving only the lot where the cabin stood.

After Marlyn moved, out the cabin was purchased by Kevin Ralph and in 2006 donated to Clearview Township. The logs were carefully stored and funds were raised for the reconstruction.

Photos and text by Paul Vorstermans

The cabin in its original location on George St. The insulbrick had been removed revealing the logs underneath.

While a new location was chosen and funds were raised, the logs were stored at the Clearview works yard. A few of the original logs had to be replaced because they were rotten. Here builder Neil Cameron is putting a dovetail on a replacement log using an axe.

The first log being put in place at its new location.

The logs being brought from the Clearview works yard.

The last log being lowered into position.

‘Personalized’ cedar shakes waiting to be put up on the roof.

Shingling the roof.

Frasier Harvey cutting the foam backing that supports the chinking.

The logs are brought from the Clearview works yard. Cathy Sumner and Peter Norton helping with the chinking. The original chinking, the material that is used to fill in the space between the logs, was cement which shrinks and tends to pull away from the logs. The restored cabin uses a modern product that stays flexible and bonds permanently to the logs.

The finished cabin, awaiting the installation of the doors and windows.