LOG CABIN    

This log cabin was built in the mid 1800’s and is one of three remaining cabins left when the Cheboygan County Sheriff dispatched deputies in 1900 to foreclose on property for unpaid taxes.   The cabins were part of a Native American village on Burt Lake built in the late 1800’s.   The Native Americans living there put the land “in trust to the governor of the State of Michigan,” thinking that this would assure ownership of their land indefinitely as a reservation.   After having received inaccurate advice, they stopped paying taxes.  Subsequently, the county foreclosed on the property and sold the land at auction for back taxes to John McGinn.   After warning the Native Americans to either leave or repurchase their land, McGinn, assisted by the county sheriff,Fred Ming, evicted the residents. Most of the cabins were burned.  

This cabin had been moved by its owner prior to eviction.  Frank and Eleanor Mundt donated the cabin to the museum in 1976.  It had been used as an ice house and then a storage shed.   When the cabin was moved, each log was numbered which allowed for reconstruction exactly as originally built.   Notice the exterior corners which are notched so that they fit together.   Originally the chinking was of moss, clay or mud.   The roof is of wooden shingles.

The original floor was hard packed dirt, which could be swept and even scrubbed if it was packed hard enough.  We have poured a cement floor for stability and ease of maintenance.   This cabin also has a loft used for sleeping and for storage.   The ladder could be pulled up at night for security.

The furnishings of this cabin are representative of what the early white settlers used in the mid 1800’s although that is not documented.

The door is made of wood split lengthwise.  The door is locked by unknotting the rope and pulling it through to the inside at night.  Then the door cannot be opened from the outside when the bar is in place.

Throughout Michigan, Log Cabin Day is celebrated yearly on the last Sunday in June.   The celebration consists of a program, log cabin visits, displays, arts and crafts, activities and refreshments.  In addition to the historic Cheboygan log cabin, other area examples of the art of log cabin building can be seen at Historic Mill Creek, Fort Michilimackinac and Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island.

Log Cabin Day, established in 1987, is a widespread celebration of our pioneer history in Michigan with over 90 registered log cabins ranging from Union Pier near the Indiana border to Lake Linden in the Keweenaw Peninsula.