Papa Buzz's Cabin
I wanted to leave a legacy for my family so I decided to build a cabin and put family memorabilia in it.  The cabin was begun in the winter of 2002 when I and Merle Wegner cut the trees from my land.  With the help of my next door neighbor (Steven Kelly) we dragged the logs to an open yard. where Paul Bostic milled the logs into 6" x 6" timbers, 2" x 6" boards and some other 1 inch stock.  The structure is supported by well treated crossties and treated pine timbers.  The main body of the cabin is held together by 10" spikes.  Merle and I made the roof trusses from 2x6 and 2x4 stock.  Steve Carrigan aided Merle and me in raising and shingling the roof.  All the doors and windows are hand made (me) and the front porch was completed in  2004 by the addition of the steel roof.  I later floored the cabin in 1" x 12" pine boards.
Why the cabin?  I wanted to leave something of and from me to my descendants and what better way to do this than to build a house/cabin/playhouse...  Since the completion, though it will never be complete, my family has spent many happy hours in and around the what has turned out to be the gathering site.    

 

The door to the cooking deck, an old storm door window and a self made frame.  There is a double bed directly above the door/window.  The toy box is one that I made for the g'kids several years ago and was moved from our den.   Bunk single beds from Mom's attic.  These can be disassembled and stored in the loft for extra space. The rear window coverings come off in April till October for ventilation.  Get hot down here.

The "kitchen" end of the cabin.  The wood stove was donated by a former student.  It is the same model that I have used in the house for 30 years.  This pic was taken on 12/12/04. Yes, that's a TV. The sleeping/playing loft.  I may extend this to the full length of the cabin.  The rails are to keep the grandkids in. 

The front: The porch is about complete.  A roof was finished by Thanksgiving 04. We had our T'giving day party on the deck. This baby is almost done.  I put the porch roof on with almost no help.  This double mattress adjoins the long loft section and affords more sleeping space.  I also added the window in the loft for more light and summer ventilation.  

This is a view from the middle of the front yard.  The cabin is about 200 feet from the house but is shielded from view somewhat by the trees.   The west end.  The cooking deck will be added to this side. Proposed size: 6' x 8'.  The screen is from the front door.  Took it down for winter.

I have decided to take most of my collection of insulators to the cabin.  These photos are of the displays under construction beside the back door.  The one on the right was a floor to "ceiling" window which I am filling in with small adjoining displays.  Lexan, donated by a friend, is the translucent material used in the displays.  

 The top of the left display houses my LRIs, radio strains, <> ponies, a commemorative bell and some other odds/ends.

This display houses most of my Lynchburg collection, 3 cd112s(I really think they should be 113s...) are in the right side display and the 251 is in the house.  Right: A shot looking through the front door shows the right side back door display and the collection of mostly old Brookies beside the door.  Sorry for the glare.

This is the front door display made from two antique farm house windows which I purchased 5 years ago.

 Top row: 145 CREBs and a killer 147 which I have willed to Jim Sinsley.  2nd: 126 &126.3s.  3rd: 133s and a 127. Bottom: Old 143 Canadians and a gift from Norm Robar in Sydney, N.S.

This display is screwed in and sealed with clear caulking.

Outside display, all tramps with one Aussie.
Why Lexan?  It was free and it is very easy to work with, cuts and takes screws well.   ps. I used 3/16 thickness.  bc