The Log Cabin

Most people these days can’t begin to envision what it might be like to raise a family in a small log cabin, and they probably don’t want to experience it either.  But back in the days of sod houses and one or two room log cabins, that was the way it was.

The log cabin on display at Heritage Hill will take you back in time with its old kitchen stove, a small kitchen table, rope bed, other old furniture and kerosene lamps. The cabin was brought to the current site in 2003. Originally it was located on the Trod and Brita Ostensoe farm in Mandt Township, where they lived with their three children; Marta, Oscar and Helga.

 Oscar said the cabin was believed to be built in the late 1800s and was moved from the Watson area to the Ostensoe farm prior to 1900. A house was built around the log cabin at that time and later more remodeling took place. Oscar was reported to have been the last farmer in Chippewa County to farm with horses. He died Dec. 25, 1988. At that time, the farm was sold. The new owner dismantled the old house and donated the cabin to The Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power & Machinery Association. They first moved the cabin to the Kurtzbein farm and added a new roof. It was then moved around 1983 to the Olaf Swensson Farm where the Association held its annual threshing shows for many years. In 2014, two new lean-tos were added and new wood shingles were installed.