Tours, music, ice cream and beautiful quilts on the schedule
By Barb Pert Templeton
Area residents are invited to take a step back in time and enjoy a log cabin tour, music by the River Strings dulcimer group, an ice cream social and even some old-fashioned yard games for children next Sunday in Clay Township.
Members of the Algonac-Clay Township Historical Society (ACHS) will be hosting their annual Log Cabin Days event on Sunday, June 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Clay Township property behind the township hall.
Mary Adkins, one of the organizers of Log Cabin Day and a member of the ACHS, said the society has been hosting Log Cabin Day since the 1990’s and there’s usually a really nice turnout for the event. There’s no cost to visitors for anything except a nominal fee for ice cream.
The Clay Township log home had been owned by the Bedford family since 1882 and was possibly a schoolhouse before that time. Restoration began in 1984 when the historical society obtained the structure, according to information noted on the society’s website. The site also stated:
The building probably dates back to the late 1800’s. It was built of hand-hewn logs, some measuring more than one foot thick. They are notched on the ends so they fit together without nails, as was the custom in building log homes at that time. Close to M-29 in Pearl Beach was a two bedroom home whose last resident vacated in 1978. During demolition, the removal of the siding revealed that a 384 square foot log structure existed under a modern exterior.
Visitors on Log Cabin Day can tour the interior of the cabin and see how a family lived at that time. ACHS members may be dressed in attire appropriate for the time period and will be able to share additional information about the structure.
An annual Log Cabin Day event will be hosted in Clay Township on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
The quilt show, hosted by the Piece to Peace Quilters, is held inside the Clay Township meeting room adjacent to the cabin. Based in Algonac, the quilting group meets regularly at the Algonac Church of Christ. They donate quilts to many area charities and recently gave several patriotic themed quilts to local veterans, Adkins said.
On Log Cabin Day the quilters hold a contest asking visitors to vote for their favorite quilt in categories like funnies, prettiest and most impressive pattern.
“They do such beautiful work and it’s just fun to see what they pick,” Adkins said.
A building behind the cabin, known as ‘the annex’ will be open to visitors as well with plenty of antique tools and farm equipment on display.
Some 18 to 20 musicians from River String Dulcimer group will perform starting at 1:30 p.m. for about 90 minutes. The show will be outside on the lawn and chairs will be provided for visitors to utilize during the event.
Old fashioned games, such as the egg and the spoon races, will also be part of the afternoon focusing on the younger set.
Strawberry ice cream sundaes will be served during the ‘ice cream social’ portion of the afternoon.
“It’s always a fun day with people coming out to enjoy the day,” Adkins said.
Log Cabin Day is not just locally recognized. It is an annual event that takes place statewide on the last Sunday of June. Sponsored by the Log Cabin Society of Michigan, the day features more than 100 log buildings. Some of those buildings date back three centuries and still open their doors to visitors.
The ACHS event will be held at 4710 Pointe Tremble Road behind the Clay Township offices which are located three miles south of Algonac on M-29 on the St. Clair River.
