Historic log cabin at fairgrounds gets facelift in time for Fairfield County Fair
LANCASTER − Those wanting to see what life in a log cabin was like will get their chance during the Fairfield County Fair, which runs from Sunday through Oct. 14.
The log cabin at the fairgrounds dates back to around 1803 and was recently restored to its original look. It arrived at the fairgrounds in 1953 to celebrate Ohio's sesquicentennial and is located near the main entrance at Fair Avenue and Broad Street.
Web Rice, Dave Benson and others are behind the renovation, with Lloyd and Diann Helber with financing the work.
The renovation cost around $75,000 to $80,000.
The cabin had a metal siding from 1983 covering the logs to protect them, but no more.
"The metal siding's been taken off," Rice said. "We've put a new roof on and fixed the bad logs. It's been treated with a bug spray, more or less (to protect the logs). Also, a coating of finish was put over it to protect it. Plus, we enlarged the overhangs to help protect it from the weather, also."
The work started last year with the siding removal. Then the company doing the renovation, Fairview Log Homes from Holmes County, came in this spring to treat the logs. The company completed the exterior work last month.
Pending finding enough volunteers, the log cabin is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday of fair week. Visitors will find period pieces like a bed, cooking utensils, chest of drawers, spinning wheels, shoes and clothing and more.
"You name it and we have it here in the log cabin," Benson said.
The cabin was open during the Lancaster Festival during fair day.
"The people who came in to visit were very impressed with the progress that we were making at that point in time to restore it back to its original structure from 1803," Benson said.
Benson said he and Rice took on the renovation project because of their love for the fairgrounds and to remind people of the county's history.
jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Fairfield County Fairgrounds log cabin gets renovated in time for fair
