PROGRAMMING PLANNED AT RESTORED LOG CABIN
Finally, it appears a use has been found for what some folks refer to as an historic “hidden gem” in southern Platte County.
The University of Missouri Extension Platte County Council and Platte County Commission have announced plans for new programming at the restored Dorothy Day log cabin at the Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve in southern Platte County.
MU Extension Engagement Specialist GK Callahan and MU Field Specialist in Community Development Elena Stephenson presented information about the project to the Platte County Commission on Monday.
The goal of this project is to preserve the legacy of Dorothy Day and the historical significance of the cabin where she lived for decades. Built in 1855, the cabin sits on the hillside above North Green Hills Road, just north of Hwy. 9 between Riverside and Parkville.
It had been vacant for years until this recent initiative to revive the space for public use.
MU Extension will offer programs such as Master Gardeners, 4-H Youth Development, yoga, health and nutrition and more. A visual arts and writing artist-in-residency program — in partnership with Platte County Parks and Recreation — also is in the works, as are engagement opportunities such as artist talks, poetry readings and concerts.
“Programs like these are a very powerful tool for community development and vitality,” Stephenson said. “We are excited to be able to share the vision and plans for this special place in Platte County.”
The Extension is proposing using the cabin itself for an artist residency program where an artist might live in the cabin for one week to three months.
If you would like more information and updates about this project and proposed artist residency program, contact MU Extension Engagement Specialist GK Callahan by email to callahang@missouri.edu or MU Field Specialist in Community Development Elena Stephenson at elenastephenson@missouri.edu.
“The Dorothy Day Log Cabin is a unique asset. I am optimistic that we have finally found the right partner to activate this property without destroying the beauty of the site. Years ago, the county commission approved spending a $1 million to preserve the cabin. The cabin has been largely unused since then. I look forward to seeing how Mizzou Extension will use the cabin property,” said Joe Vanover, second district commissioner, this week.
BACKGROUND
The log cabin was the topic of a feature story written by The Landmark’s Valerie Verkamp in November of 2021.
The cabin was erected in the early to mid-1800s presumably by a French fur trader to serve as a trapper outpost, just after Missouri became a state. The cabin remains at its original site north of the Missouri River, just two miles northeast of where Parkville is today.
Hand constructed of walnut, cottonwood, and other deciduous trees growing on the property, the cabin’s log walls intersect at the corners in a dovetail and half dovetail fashion.
Although the log cabin, known to be one of the oldest remaining homes in Platte County, is owned and operated by the Platte County Parks Department, very few visitors have observed the unique characteristics of the Day Log Cabin or tranquility found in its natural surroundings.
Platte County Commissioner Joe Vanover has been spearheading a renewed effort to share this historic gem with a greater number of people, while safeguarding the site and the habitat of the creatures who live here.
In recent years, the 1,500 square foot cabin has been the focus of one of the largest ongoing preservation projects in the county. The Platte County Parks and Recreation Department has invested approximately $1 million in restoring the cabin to its original appearance for future generations to enjoy. Yet many people still have no idea of the history right under their noses.
As for the historic cabin, a nine-member steering committee donated their time and expertise on how best to preserve this one-of-a-kind site in 2014. At the end of the process, the Platte County Parks and Recreation Department rolled out a three-phase master plan to transform the cabin and surrounding grounds into an educational destination. The county retained Strata Architecture, Inc. to carry out the engineering and assessment services for the first phase restoration project.
Phase two of the plan, backed by Brian Nowotny, the former director of Platte County Parks and Recreation, was to construct a fully functioning interpretive and exhibit space on the south end of the property, where the Day’s furnishings and keepsakes, like books and artwork, could be displayed. The interpretive space would also feature information about the county’s natural history.
The final phase called for the construction of an event space and classroom. A structurally unsound barn was to be torn down and replaced with prosaic amenities, such as restrooms and support facilities.
While the preservation work was carried out as initially planned, efforts to construct the interpretive space and classroom faltered.
Daniel Erickson, who heads the Platte County Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation, told The Landmark in 2021 the primary reason the Platte County Commission did not authorize funding for the final two phases was mainly due to a lack of partnership to help finance the additional phases. Some county officials also say the site’s capabilities are limited, making it a bad spot for an educational center.
“There are some issues with access,” said Erickson. “Getting up to the cabin is kind of a chore, due to the steep grade of the valley.”
The lay of the land also presents unique parking issues.
In the cabins glory days, it was owned by George and Emma Day, who purchased the property in 1912. Not only did the couple appreciated the rustic cabin situated on the heavily wooded valley, but the fresh water spring cascading along the north side of the property. When Dorothy Day, who is the granddaughter of George and Emma, took ownership of the property, it had been vacant for about 20 years.
Under Dorothy’s care, the cabin’s interior was minimally preserved, and an additional wing was built on in the 1970s with some delicacy. Before passing away, Dorothy expressed an interest in passing on the historic asset and its surrounding 48-acres to help preserve its integrity for generations to come.
When the county took ownership of the property in 2002, a scenic wooded area across N. Green Hills Road was cultivated into a nature trail featuring wetlands with a meandering boardwalk, patches of evergreen forests, and a few ancient oaks. The project was made possible by dedicated funds from the Platte County Parks Sales Tax and a Land Water Conservation Fund grant administered through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
“Although we’re close to 9 Highway, the turn off 9 Highway isn’t terribly obvious,” said Vanover. “Green Hills is not a high traffic road, where lots of people drive by and see it. So, it’s somewhat secluded even though it’s close to Parkville and Riverside. You have to know it’s here to come find it,” said Vanover in 2021.
“I would like to see more people get to experience this original log cabin,” said Vanover. “I enjoy history, and I think there are a lot of people who also enjoy history. The opportunity to see a cabin, where it was originally built, and still stands today, is fascinating. It’s a shame the cabin goes mostly unused.”
“Many of the cabin’s furnishings have been cataloged, removed, and are currently in county storage,” said Vanover.
“The cabin is small enough that it is not realistic for more than one family to be inside at one time,” said Vanover. Still, the site is extremely photogenic and takes visitors far away from today’s distractions.
“Visiting this place is like taking a step back in time,” said Vanover. “You feel a world away from everything else when you’re here.”