Log Cabin Found Inside Town and Country Home

Town and Country aldermen are considering allocating $12,000 for the preservation of a log cabin built in 1854.

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The cabin was found inside a home that is being torn down in the near future. From the outside, the logs are not visible, but the logs are exposed inside the home.

Alderman Skip Mange is asking aldermen to vote to allocate the money in an effort to preserve the city's history. The issue was discussed during a work session prior to a board of aldermen meeting earlier this month.

Mange said the log cabin at 13348 Conway Road is in "prestine condition," is mentioned in historic books and the site of the first U.S. Post Office in the region known as New Alsace.

"It is a historically significant structure in the city," Mange told aldermen. "We feel very strongly we should preserve our city."  

He wants the city to allocate $12,000 to disassemble the cabin. He said the logs would then be cataloged and likely stored at the horse stables in Town and Country's Drace Park.

"They get disassembled, stored and then reassembled in the same order," Mange explained. "The concept here is that since the house is going to be torn down, you can disassemble it log, by log."

Mange said the cost will be $80,000 to $90,000 to disassemble, catalogue and reassemble the cabin in the future. Mange estimates the city can get 80 to 85 percent in grants.

Alderman Tim Welby and Gussie Crawford both expressed concerns at a recent board of aldermen work session over the cost of the project and using the city funds.

Crawford cited projects already underway at Longview Park, while Welby said he was concerned about the overall cost of the project and no guarentee for grant money to fund it.

"I cannot give you any guarantee. I can tell you it's been done in the past," Mange said. "All were done with grant monies to do it."

Mange cited the Bacon Log Cabin in Ballwin as one example where grant money was used to preserve the historic buildings. He also said preserving the Town and Country cabin would allow it to be used for education about life in the 1850s and about the city.

"This is an opportunity for to preserve some of our heritage," Mange said. If we don't do this the log cabin is gone."

The issue is set to be discussed further at the Nov. 26 Town and Country Board of Aldermen meeting.