Boy Scout cabin rehab lands $75K in state funding

by Judy Stringer

Restoration of the 1931 Boy Scout Cabin in downtown Hudson was among a trio of community projects that got a financial injection in Ohio’s recent biennial budget.

The budget includes a $75,000 grant for the log cabin rebuild and site improvements.

“The 1931 Boy Scout Cabin on the Hudson Green is an important piece of our city’s history,” said state Senator Kristina Daley Roegner. “I was delighted to be able to secure this funding in the state capital budget for this important project.”

According to a release from the restoration campaign, organizers raised $170,000 through Hudson residents and foundations, the Hudson Rotary Foundation and Scouting family members prior to receiving the state grant. Commemorative bricks and pavers are still available for purchase at Rotary’s website, rotaryhudson.org.

The property at the corner of Main Street and state Route 303 also features Hudson’s WWI memorial, which was recently restored and rededicated.

The 90-year-old cabin restoration and site improvement will begin in spring 2023. The cabin work will include replacement of the deteriorating exterior chinking, repair and/or replacement of damaged wormy chestnut logs, providing ADA accessibility and replacement of rotted roof eaves/soffits, fascia boards and rafters. The log cabin foundation and interior appear to be in good condition with electrical, lighting and mechanical system upgrades implemented in recent years. Cabin builders contacted to date say the structure will have to be dismantled piece by piece, numbered and then rebuilt.

Once the log cabin has been restored and the landscaping upgraded, it is expected the Hudson community and visitors will enjoy exploring the site and learning the history of the cabin and local Scouting. Benches and historical event signs will be available.

Other local grants

The Hudson City Schools will use a $65,000 state grant to create a walking land lab on the Ellsworth Hill Elementary campus property, available to both students and the community. The school has a protected wetlands area and is part of the Tinker’s Creek water basin. After-school clubs will be able to incorporate walking and lab activities into their events. Students will be exposed to various biomes, woodlands, prairie, pollinators, rain gardens and vegetable gardens. The path and plantings along the way will be constructed with Ohio’s learning standards in science, social studies, mathematics and language arts. The path will also include wild flower gardens, areas for small vernal pools to collect and house salamanders, frogs and various plantings that will support the protected wetland.

Case-Barlow Farm will use a $80,000 grant for the restoration and repair of its original 1831 brick house and other improvements to protect the interior. The farm consists of a restored and period-furnished farmhouse, wagon barn, milk house and bank barn situated on just over four acres. The farmstead is a significant cultural and historical facility, the remainder of the almost 500-acre dairy farm that thrived in this location under the care of five generations of the same family. Seasonal rental of the farmhouse and barn generates much-needed funds that are put back into the ongoing maintenance and improvement of its historic buildings. ∞