Restoration of Historic Log Cabin Completed

Sarpy County Museum Press Release

Thanks to a grant awarded by the local Quester Corp of Discovery Corp #1504 to the Sarpy County Historical Museum, restoration work on the historic log cabin on Hancock Street in Olde Bellevue, Nebraska owned by the Sarpy County Historical Museum has been completed before winter weather sets into our area.

Butch Bouvier, contractor, and his apprentice Sterling Fitcher, have worked for three weeks renovating and restoring the log cabin built in 1935. Bouvier said the cabin is a living documentary on the methods used to cut and hew wood in the middle of the 19 th century. Cut marks on various logs and ceiling braces show much about the age and type of trees the wood came from as well as the type of tools that were used to shape them.

New logs were cut and molded to fit into spaces where wood had deteriorated. The logs were then given cut marks like those made by the artisans who built the original cabin. The cabin was then stained with linseed oil to maintain the integrity of the logs. Bouvier stated that for those who understood woodwork and the history of woodwork this is a fascinating experience.

He said the key to restoring the cabin is to leave as much original material intact as possible so that it will not be removed from the Nebraska Register of Historic Places. The logs on the outside of the structure must match, as closely as possible, the original and properly morticed.

“We are trying not to disturb, but to preserve,” said Butch. “We don’t want to detract from the original too much.“

Once the restoration of the log cabin was complete, Mike Hall of Twin City Masonry was able to follow up with restoration of the brick steps both front and back using Kansas City red brick.