Unearthing the Past: Help Us Rebuild Story City’s 1859 Log Cabin
Interior view of the homestead showing the front doorway of the log cabin.
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In 2022, the Hermanson family purchased a farm just northeast of Story City—and with it, a house containing a remarkable surprise: a well-preserved log cabin hidden within its walls. The cabin had been partially revealed in the 1940s during renovations, and in the 1990s, Anne Marie Kern and her sons exposed sections of the original log interior. When the Hermansons acquired the property, the logs were already visible, and it quickly became clear they had a rare piece of local history.
Over the past two and a half years, extensive research confirmed the cabin’s importance. Dendrochronology conducted by the University of Wisconsin–Platteville dated the logs to the spring of 1859—matching historical records of its construction. In January 2025, each log was carefully labeled and archived before being dismantled and transported to Heritage Woodworks, Inc. in Clemons, Iowa. Restoration is now underway, with plans to reconstruct the cabin this fall on the Historical Society’s lot at Broad Street and Hillcrest Drive, next to the Sheldall Schoolhouse Museum. The cabin was originally built for the Reagan family, Irish immigrants who moved from Nevada, Iowa. It was raised during a traditional “cabin bee,” with help from the local community. The Anfinson family, Norwegian immigrants, later lived in the home, and children from both families attended the nearby Sheldall Schoolhouse—making the cabin’s new location especially fitting. Once rebuilt, the cabin will serve as a permanent exhibit highlighting early settlers and Native American history in the area. This project is being completed in partnership with Heritage Woodworks and with generous community support. We are currently seeking donations from individuals and businesses to help with preservation and reconstruction costs. If you'd like to make a donation, click below to download a donation form to mail a check or click the donate button below to use a card. Special thanks to Katie Hermanson for her invaluable help in researching and organizing this project. Her dedication has been instrumental in getting us to this exciting stage. Katie has created a wonderful website to share the history of the cabin and the land where it was originally located. To learn more about the project, visit https://tinyurl.com/1859cabin |
Log Cabin Legacy Donation Levels
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$50 – Peg & Pin Supporter
Small but essential—just like you!
Filling the gaps to make us whole
Rebuilding the past, one log at a time
Supporting the expert craft of corner joinery
Your gift helps hold the project together
A key anchor in this historic effort
Preserving the past for generations to come
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Online Donation
Mail-in Donation
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Donation Meter
Updated as of October 24
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Thank you to all of all of those who have contributed to our campaign so far. We are at the 41% mark with donations and grants received.
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Progress Updates
Foundation work completed thanks to Jensen Excavating.
