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Warsaw's 2nd log cabin needs donated furnishings
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
WARSAW, Ill. - The reconstruction of the second 1840s log cabin in Warsaw, Ill., is stirring excitement, Ron Pierce told the Warsaw School Board Thursday.
“Thanks to the young men working on the log cabin and donations, it is coming along,” he said.
Pierce, a Warsaw High School agricultural teacher and Future Farmers of America sponsor, said Don Bumphrey, another ag teacher/FFA sponsor at Warsaw, asked Pierce if he was knowledgeable about construction.
Because there is no other high school role model to follow in reconstructing an 1840s log cabin, Pierce took his home repairs class to Nauvoo, Ill., to meet with Dave Hardle, who restores log cabins.
“I had to understand how to undertake this,” said Pierce. “Dave Hardle runs the log cabin project in Nauvoo. To my knowledge, Warsaw is the only high school and the only FFA doing anything like this.
“Dave and I have worked with 12 of the finest young men. It's been a phenomenal experience. We've been able to accomplish lots of things because of these young men. Principal Tom Bertucci has been very supportive of the project.
“We are placing the rafters. Farm and Home Supply has helped immensely, Wal-Mart has helped and Wells Lamont has donated work gloves.”
Pierce called Storey Publishing Company to ask for a specific textbook on restoring log cabins the company publishes.
“I called and told about our project and asked if there was any way they could donate some books,” he said. “I got a ‘no.' I asked to talk with the owner of the company. I repeated my story. She sent us 30 books, at $35 each, at no cost.
“I'm here tonight asking the school board's help in networking and getting the word out. We are needing donations for furniture. We're looking for period or period-looking pieces.
“There's excitement building about the project. We've already had five newspapers and two TV stations here to do a story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.”
Warsaw High School 2006 graduate Mitch Heisler started work on the log cabin in the fall of his senior year as part of a FFA project.
The cabin was originally located in the Warsaw river bottoms, about a mile south of town.
In the early 1990s, Ken and Ermma Smith began tearing down their residence and discovered this log cabin inside the home, which had been built around it.
The Smiths offered the cabin to the Warsaw Historical Society and community members and Warsaw FFA members helped dismantle the cabin more than a decade ago. Each log and piece was marked to help reassemble it. The logs were in storage until Heisler decided to tackle the project.
He, classmates and local volunteers poured concrete for the cabin next to another log cabin at Henerhoff Field at Main and 10th streets. After waiting for the concrete to cure and replacement logs to arrive (a few were destroyed by rot and termites in storage) Heisler and friends erected logs forming the outside walls. Heisler continued working on the cabin during summers home from college.
In August this year, the home repairs class took up trowels to chink the walls and are now roofing the cabin.
The class is meetings its goal to have a roof on by Thanksgiving. By Christmas, the class would like to host horse-drawn carriage rides between the cabin and Scoops, the old-fashioned ice cream and soda shop at Fourth and Main, Warsaw.
Mat loan
Jeff Hughes of the West Hancock Kids Wrestling Club asked the school board to borrow the high school Titan wrestling mats for the club's first tournament scheduled for Jan. 3, 2009, at Hamilton schools.
After a thorough discussion of liability and handling issues, the six board members tentatively approved the request with the stipulation that a protocol for moving the $10,000 mats be agreed to and the club provide proof of insurance if Hamilton schools' insurance does not cover the mats in traveling.
Warsaw's insurance stops coverage when the mats leave the building, Superintendent Kim Schilson said. She had consulted with the insurance agent and school attorney about the issue prior to the meeting.
“Thanks to the young men working on the log cabin and donations, it is coming along,” he said.
Pierce, a Warsaw High School agricultural teacher and Future Farmers of America sponsor, said Don Bumphrey, another ag teacher/FFA sponsor at Warsaw, asked Pierce if he was knowledgeable about construction.
Because there is no other high school role model to follow in reconstructing an 1840s log cabin, Pierce took his home repairs class to Nauvoo, Ill., to meet with Dave Hardle, who restores log cabins.
“I had to understand how to undertake this,” said Pierce. “Dave Hardle runs the log cabin project in Nauvoo. To my knowledge, Warsaw is the only high school and the only FFA doing anything like this.
“Dave and I have worked with 12 of the finest young men. It's been a phenomenal experience. We've been able to accomplish lots of things because of these young men. Principal Tom Bertucci has been very supportive of the project.
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Pierce called Storey Publishing Company to ask for a specific textbook on restoring log cabins the company publishes.
“I called and told about our project and asked if there was any way they could donate some books,” he said. “I got a ‘no.' I asked to talk with the owner of the company. I repeated my story. She sent us 30 books, at $35 each, at no cost.
“I'm here tonight asking the school board's help in networking and getting the word out. We are needing donations for furniture. We're looking for period or period-looking pieces.
“There's excitement building about the project. We've already had five newspapers and two TV stations here to do a story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.”
Warsaw High School 2006 graduate Mitch Heisler started work on the log cabin in the fall of his senior year as part of a FFA project.
The cabin was originally located in the Warsaw river bottoms, about a mile south of town.
In the early 1990s, Ken and Ermma Smith began tearing down their residence and discovered this log cabin inside the home, which had been built around it.
The Smiths offered the cabin to the Warsaw Historical Society and community members and Warsaw FFA members helped dismantle the cabin more than a decade ago. Each log and piece was marked to help reassemble it. The logs were in storage until Heisler decided to tackle the project.
He, classmates and local volunteers poured concrete for the cabin next to another log cabin at Henerhoff Field at Main and 10th streets. After waiting for the concrete to cure and replacement logs to arrive (a few were destroyed by rot and termites in storage) Heisler and friends erected logs forming the outside walls. Heisler continued working on the cabin during summers home from college.
In August this year, the home repairs class took up trowels to chink the walls and are now roofing the cabin.
The class is meetings its goal to have a roof on by Thanksgiving. By Christmas, the class would like to host horse-drawn carriage rides between the cabin and Scoops, the old-fashioned ice cream and soda shop at Fourth and Main, Warsaw.
Mat loan
Jeff Hughes of the West Hancock Kids Wrestling Club asked the school board to borrow the high school Titan wrestling mats for the club's first tournament scheduled for Jan. 3, 2009, at Hamilton schools.
After a thorough discussion of liability and handling issues, the six board members tentatively approved the request with the stipulation that a protocol for moving the $10,000 mats be agreed to and the club provide proof of insurance if Hamilton schools' insurance does not cover the mats in traveling.
Warsaw's insurance stops coverage when the mats leave the building, Superintendent Kim Schilson said. She had consulted with the insurance agent and school attorney about the issue prior to the meeting.
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