New Years Day 2014, Part One - Revisits. . . and maybe farewells. . . but a great day none-the-less.

 New Years Day afternoon found me with some time to my self, so I set out with a purpose I had not realized I had in the morning when I started out.

My intent was to go find one new cabin to photograph in Augusta and then head to my cabin for a little while. Once I started driving I realized I, unknowingly had other plans.

I found myself taking one of my favorite drives in one of my favorite parts of our county.

The Femme Osage area of south-western St. Charles County. Daniel Boone country.
Although most of the area and homes are now owned by well-to-do newcomers, most of the area retains much of it's country style. And let's face it, if not for the well-to-do newcomers, many of these old farm buildings would be long gone.

The barn in this picture could easily rank in the top-twenty barns in the country. A giant made of stone, with doorways large enough to drive a double team pulling a wagon right on through.

A panoramic view.

 Also in the wonderful Femme Osage valley are some fantastic old farm houses like this one.

 At the end of the valley where the village of Femme Osage sits is this beautiful UCC church.
Here decked out for Christmas.

 Across the creek from the church is the old stone school house.

 Right next to the cemetery.

 Still in great shape and used as a museum.

 The inside.














Well, after my visit to the Femme Osage valley I found myself heading towards what is really the first cabin I ever built mostly by myself.

I wrote about that time in my life here, earlier this year in this blog.

I had not walked back to it for probably about six years.

And in a way I wanted to check it out and see what kind of shape it was in, and if in good shape, I hoped some day to take daughter back to it and show her where all this log cabin silliness got started.

As I approached through the woods, it didn't look any different than the last time I had been.

 Even as I got closer it seemed pretty intact.

 But as I walked around the side with the drive I could see the condition was much in distress.

 A tree limb had fallen on the roof damaging the window and much of the chinking on this one side.

Luckily the tin on the roof was fairly new, otherwise the limb would have done more damage.

Now it should be stated here, that the people responsible for this cabin are also the ones mentioned in this post. Again, I am not going to assume their situation, but. . . .

Although dusty and dirty, the interior was almost a time-capsule of the many years ago when I also used it.
The old scout semaphore flags still hung on the wall.

 The bunks I had rescued from another site were still ready to be used.
Our tattered flag still hung behind.

The cook gear we used, still on the shelves.

But it has not been used in a long time.
The tree had done a lot of damage to this one side, chinking gone, window broken.

 At 35 years of age, and only a couple of hundred dollars spent while building it and after all this lack of use, it is holding up well, and could still be a fun little rustic getaway.
The damage is not beyond repair. But I do not see the current owners caring.

Back in the early 80's we even did a couple family Thanksgivings here.

 I don't think I will take daughter to see it. I like the way it looked in the older pictures better.

 The walls still twist and bend and all the windows kind of lean a different way. . . .

The view as I walk away.
Will it be the last time I see it standing?

So my day started visiting old sites and memories.
But part two, tomorrow, will find me exploring new 'old' sites.

See ya then.

A very cool restoration. . .

Restoration here.

Where it all began. . .

In a previous post I suggested that I may have first fallen in love with log cabins during the broadcast of the 'Daniel Boone' TV show,

and although that may still be the case, something or somewhere may have also had an influence.

During the late 50's and well into the 60's we would vacation once a year at Grand Glaze, Lake of the Ozarks and we would stay in some cabins just as you got off of the bridge, I believe it was called Shady Slope.
We always stayed at the same cabin. Some times we would have to spend one night or so in another cabin or building till the one we loved was available.
 But some how, we always ended with some time in our favorite.

Probably built around the time the dam was built in the late 30's or early 40's.

It looked right across the main highway (although we were well above it) and out across the lake.

It was a great place with lots of memories.
It is no longer there.

Photo probably by my dad of my brother.

Some panarama's so you can see the lay of the land. . .

. . . and how it all goes together.

Found this beauty while looking for something else. . .

                                                                                             
The Tiblow Cabin. The photograph was probably taken in 1907 or 1908. The cabin was probably torn down in 1910. (The image was submitted by Researcher/Descendant Vickie Wilkins on 9 December 2003.) Click on it to get a real good view.

You can see the floor joists that indicate a half story above.
Look at the log gable ends, rare to find now a days. And the horizontal roof rafters.
Wow!

Faust Park fall weekend

 St Louis County's Faust Park now occupies what was once a farm first started in 1821.

It now displays many rebuilt old buildings.
It is also the home to an historical old carousel..

It contains old framed farm homes, log buildings, school house, store fronts and other buildings.

 This large log barn is the first one you come to, and you can see the log crib if you look in the door.

 Some of the buildings have signs naming the buildings original names.

This first big barn is Sellenriek Barn.

 A view from the outside.

 This little log barn is right next to it.

 You can tell by how big the gaps are between the logs that this building was always intend as a barn.
If they had been building it as a home, the gaps would be tighter.

View from the other end.

 This small log smoke house near by.

 It was reconstructed using mud on board chinking.
Mud was cheap. Could easily be replaced.
If it didn't get wet, it would last for decades. Usually mixed with grass, straw or horse hair to make it bond better.

 Three of the log buildings in one view.

 Frame farm house.

Cabin number four is a large story and a half dog-rot cabin. This is the front view.

 Closer front view.
Note that the dog trot is enclosed.
Although it no longer serves as a breeze way or place to get out of the sun yet be under roof, it now offers additional room inside. A common practice.

 What's this?

 Well, it's a dog mill.
Even the poor dog had to work on the farm.
I guess the dog could dog trot on the dog-trot.
The drawing is an Eric Sloane.

 Showing floor joists for the upper floor.

 Early six-over-six windows.

 Behind is another small smoke house cabin.

 Another frame house and outbuilding. Probably a summer kitchen.

 Detail of smoke house lock.

 Rear view of the dog-trot cabin.

 Close up of second smoke house.

 Rebuilt brick house nearby.

 Reflection in the school house window.

Old school house.