- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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Originally the idea was to bring the cabin into the Town square where the Town Hall, Lansing Community Library Center, the Field Schoolhouse and the Town's historical records building stand. That plan changed, in part because the cabin might be eligible for more funding if it is relocated onto its original location. Achieving that eligibility requires that the Town figure out just where that location was. Articles in the December 1966 Lansing Historical Association newsletter suggest that spot is on the corner of Conlon and Searles Roads, near Mary Searle's house.
Adding to the uncertainty is that the cabin was moved north in 1844 to a location at or near 578 Conlon Road. There is a home there now, and it is uncertain whether land could be acquired for the cabin or whether it would be considered to be the original location. Muka has agreed to search records in Auburn that might shed light on the earlier location.
Muka has also offered to donate land on Salmon Creek Road for the cabin. This insures that the cabin will have a place to go, but the Council wants to explore how funding will be affected before settling on one location or another. Moving the cabin is not without its challenges. The physical challenge will be to truck the 18' x 24' building intact from behind the Cayuga Museum in Auburn to its final home in Lansing. Town officials say the roof, which leaks, is not the original one, and plan to remove it before the move, replacing it with a new one once it gets here. They say the logs are in good shape, but they are reluctant to disassemble them for moving. They are in contact with Richard Lazarus and Company, a Spencer company that specializes in moving buildings.
Another challenge is finding the money. The two big expenses will be the move itself and the land if it needs to be purchased. Councilman Marty Christopher said he is for bringing the building to Lansing, "as long as the population doesn't think it is resting on their tax money." With the current tax environment the whole Council agreed that the Town will have to find grant money and/or private donations to fund the move.
The cabin was discovered when some pine siding was removed for repairs in 1958. At that time it was thought to be the oldest log cabin still standing intact in Tompkins County. It was moved to the Cayuga Museum where it was used for historical displays until about five years ago. Now it is being used for a storage shed, but museum officials are anxious for Lansing to reclaim the building.
Town officials envision a future historical trail in Lansing that would include the North cabin, the Field schoolhouse, a cemetery trail and historical outhouses. The town would publish a map that residents and tourists would use to visit historical sites here. The new North cabin site will need some parking spaces, and officials envision that it would be open to the public, tourist or school groups by appointment, furnished with period antiques.
During the meeting several action items were agreed upon. Muka will research the original site, while Town Supervisor Steve Farkas will contact the moving company and explore possible funding from the State. Christopher will reach out to the school district to see what interest they may have, and Shattuck is exploring the historical requirements of possible funding. All seemed to feel that the project is achievable and worthwhile. "I am dedicating the time to get it done this year," Shattuck said.
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