Step 2: Planning the
Restoration

Planning the Cabin

 

Step 3: Progress
on the Restoration

Restoring the Cabin

Step 1: Moving the Veblen Cabin

Combined Family and Study Cabin starting

This is how the family cabin and study cabin appeared when the Land Trust decided to remove the dwelling.

The owners had moved the two structures together; notched the roof of the study cabin; and covered the outside with R11 siding. The stdy cabin is on the right.

 

 

The Access Roadstarting

There was a narrow access road to move the study cabin from its location to the new location which was available for public access and proper monitoring in an area adjacent to the Jens Jacobson Museum, parking lot and public facilities.

 

 

Separating the Family and Study Cabinstarting

The first step was to separate the study cabin from the larger family cabin. There was roofing issues and wiring that had to be removed. There were timber supports under both cabins. There was a pit under the study cabin that presented a challenge.

 

 

Cutting the Study Cabin in Halfstarting

Because of the narrow access road and legal issues involved in clearing a wider path, the cabin was cut into two pieces and braced to make the trip to the new location at the south end of Little Lake.

This action made the stableization of the cabin problematic.

 

Study Cabin Movedstarting

The cabin was moved in two pieces to a foundation that had been built new the Jacobson Museum.

The larger cabin, built by Thorstein Veblen in 1916 was demolished by the Land Trust.

 

 

Two Pieces Recombinedstarting

The two halves of the study cabin were recombined on the new foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

Damages Over the Yearsstarting

In addition to the obvious destructive step to make the move, the problems that were caused by the combining of the the two cabins, the modern siding, the wiring and other improvements all need to be addressed.

This picture shows a section of the roof was cut off to combine the study cabin with the family cabin.

Veblen's Desk Entactstarting

While the roof and the walls were treated rather roughly, amazingly Thorstein Veblen's Desk and book shelf remained pristine. Except the inside of the cabin was painted white. Not the raw wood which Veblen would have preferred.