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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




LOG CABIN: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:logcabin2.png|left|thumb|150px|Moving the cabin in 1965. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]
[[Image:logcabin2.png|left|thumb|250px|Moving the cabin in 1965. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]
[[Image:logcabin8.png|left|thumb|150px|Moving the cabin in 1965 to its concrete base. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]
[[Image:logcabin8.png|left|thumb|250px|Moving the cabin in 1965 to its concrete base. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]
[[Image:logcabin.gif|left|thumb|150px|Log cabin on the grounds of the Ham House Museum]]LOG CABIN. (Louis Arrandeaux/Wlliam Newman Log House) Now located at the [[HAM HOUSE]] Museum, the cabin is believed to be the oldest building in Iowa. Constructed in 1827, the cabin stood at what became Second and Locust [[STREETS]]. (1)  
[[Image:logcabin.gif|left|thumb|250px|Log cabin on the grounds of the Ham House Museum]]LOG CABIN. (Louis Arrandeaux/Wlliam Newman Log House) Now located at the [[HAM HOUSE]] Museum, the cabin is believed to be the oldest building in Iowa. Constructed in 1827, the cabin stood at what became Second and Locust [[STREETS]]. (1)  
The cabin was built, according to best records, by Louis Arrandeaux, a trapper believed married to a daughter of Chief Blackhawk. When the trapper died, his Native American wife sold the cabin. A barber, Samuel Ellmer, later lived in the cabin and used his mastery of ventriloquism to convince Native Americans in the area that he had magical powers. The building, therefore, became a place of shelter for whites who knew they were safe from attack. (2) It was also a place of worship. On the first Sunday of every month, Father [[MAZZUCHELLI, Samuel|Samuel MAZZUCHELLI]] said Mass from the south room. He also lived there on occasion. (3)
The cabin was built, according to best records, by Louis Arrandeaux, a trapper believed married to a daughter of Chief Blackhawk. When the trapper died, his Native American wife sold the cabin. A barber, Samuel Ellmer, later lived in the cabin and used his mastery of ventriloquism to convince Native Americans in the area that he had magical powers. The building, therefore, became a place of shelter for whites who knew they were safe from attack. (2) It was also a place of worship. On the first Sunday of every month, Father [[MAZZUCHELLI, Samuel|Samuel MAZZUCHELLI]] said Mass from the south room. He also lived there on occasion. (3)



Revision as of 00:49, 22 June 2018

Moving the cabin in 1965. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald
Moving the cabin in 1965 to its concrete base. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald
Log cabin on the grounds of the Ham House Museum

LOG CABIN. (Louis Arrandeaux/Wlliam Newman Log House) Now located at the HAM HOUSE Museum, the cabin is believed to be the oldest building in Iowa. Constructed in 1827, the cabin stood at what became Second and Locust STREETS. (1)

The cabin was built, according to best records, by Louis Arrandeaux, a trapper believed married to a daughter of Chief Blackhawk. When the trapper died, his Native American wife sold the cabin. A barber, Samuel Ellmer, later lived in the cabin and used his mastery of ventriloquism to convince Native Americans in the area that he had magical powers. The building, therefore, became a place of shelter for whites who knew they were safe from attack. (2) It was also a place of worship. On the first Sunday of every month, Father Samuel MAZZUCHELLI said Mass from the south room. He also lived there on occasion. (3)

The cabin was constructed in a form called "dogtrot." The style developed in Sweden, Germany, Finland and Russia centuries before it appeared in Dubuque. In most, the kitchen, dining room and living room existed in one portion. The other portion served as a bedroom. Each part had its own fireplace. Theories exist that the breezeway between the two parts was to provide good airflow. (4) Given the cold regions in which it was developed, however, it may just as well have given inhabitants an opportunity to escape cooking odors.

In 1834 William Newman purchased the cabin and lived in it with his guardian, Mary Smith, after her parents died of CHOLERA. Years later, he offered Augustin A. COOPER, his apprentice, the opportunity of living in the half of the cabin containing the kitchen. At the age of twenty-two, Cooper married Mary Smith on the threshold of the cabin with Bishop Mathias LORAS officiating. (4)

Postcard of the cabin in Eagle Point Park.
File:Logcabinb.png
Reverse of the postcard falsely linking the cabin to Julien Dubuque.

Clapboards painted white were eventually nailed to the cabin and disguised it until 1915 when it was discovered by Frederick Ezekiel BISSELL.

The building was moved to EAGLE POINT PARK. In 1949-50 the Park Board voted to remodel the cabin replacing rotted logs, windows and doors. A new shingle roof was added and the wood was treated with a preservative. (5) The total cost was $5,000. In 1957 it was recognized by the Dubuque Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution who marked it with a bronze plaque.

In 1963 a proposal was made to renovate the cabin and put it off limits as a pavilion. The exterior would be restored to its 1820s appearance and the interior would be provided with pioneer furnishings. The doorway would be covered with glass so that the interior could be viewed. Security would be provided by spotlights positioned outside. (6) This was never done.

The building was moved to the grounds of the Ham House in June, 1965. The entire relocation process took four hours. Restoration of the cabin became a project of the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY and was expected to cost $8,000. (7)


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Source:

1. Larry FRIEDMAN and Katherine FISCHER, A. A. Cooper: Reinvesting the Wheel, River City Press, 2016, p. 42

2. Ibid.

3. "This Log Cabin Built in Dubuque 90 Years Ago by French Trapper," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, April 29, 1917, p. 8

4. Friedman

5. Ibid., p. 57

6. Thompson, Dave. "Park Board Cool to Log Cabin Plan," Telegraph Herald, March 11, 1963, p. 32. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bhJRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I8sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5880,1380607&dq=history+of+eagle+point+park+dubuque&hl=en

7. "Log Cabin Gets a Ride," Telegraph Herald, June 4, 1965, p. 17