DESIRÉE DECOSTE

STAFF WRITER

A sub-committee of the South Shore Joint Initiative (SSJI), who is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the Moses Hudgin Log House at 191 Ostander Point Road, recently received charity status meaning fundraising for the house restoration can begin in earnest.

The Moses Hudgin Log House was designated for its heritage value in 2011 by Prince Edward County Council. The Log House and its land were purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in 2019 and the land is now known as the Hudgin-Rose Nature Reserve to recognize the Rose family who were recent owners of the property. Currently the Moses Log House Restoration Committee has two fundraising projects.

Master canoe maker Dick Bird has donated one of his beautiful cedar/canvas canoes to the cause. The canoe is called the “Severn” and is built in the tradition of the Peterborough Canoe Company (1892-1961). This canoe is 17 feet 6 inches long and is built for heavy loads and open water. There is no keel, which makes it easier for paddling. The canoe weighs around 80 pounds (heavy for portaging) so use of a light two-wheeled canoe cart is advisable. It is a very safe canoe. This is canoe #29 that Bird has made and donated or sold, with the money sent to worthwhile causes.

“The lumber is local white cedar/white ash/black cherry and sugar maple,” commented Bird “The white ash came from Morrison’s Point and is the nicest wood I have ever worked with.”

The canoe is being sold for $3,000 which is a very reasonable price considering it takes between 100 and 150 hours to construct.

The second fundraising project is a direct appeal to individuals particularly interested in heritage and history in the County and beyond. Donations at all levels are being solicited; however, any donation over $100 will be recognized on a plaque in the restored House. Individuals can add to their donations over time and achieve increasing levels of recognition.

The Restoration committee is delighted to have the Prince Edward Historical Society (PEHS) join the fundraising for the Hudgin Log House. PEHS has devised a “matching funds” scheme. The Historical Society will match all donations to the Hudgin Log House fund to a total of $1,000.

The goal of all this activity is to raise a total of $100,000 to allow complete restoration of the Log House so that it may be used as a three-season Field House for South Shore nature studies and include a small museum display about the Hudgin family.

Restoration on the Log House starts this summer with the Pat Wolfe Log Building School coming to stabilize the building and re-chink the spaces between the logs. There are plans to have the windows on the ground floor re-built and installed and the existing front door restored and painted. Another important item on the immediate agenda is re-building of the chimney. Over the years it has not weathered well. Some bricks will need to be replaced with bricks especially made to duplicate the bricks from 1861.

Restoration Architect Edwin Rowse has prepared cost estimates for all the work and done a complete assessment of the building.

“With two grants currently in hand and two others applied for we are ready to start work,” Rowse expressed. “The dedication of the Restoration Committee and PEHS to fund raising for the House is inspiring. I am certain we will soon have the Moses Hudgin Log House restored to a good useable condition.”

For more information on the canoe for sale please visit at https://www.ssji.ca/canoe

Donations to the Hudgin House Restoration Fund may be made at https://www.ssji.ca/Hudgin or cheques may be mailed to Cheryl Anderson, 2 Ackerman St., apt 304, Picton K0K 2T0. Cheques should be made payable to SSJI with “Hudgin Log House” on the memo line.

Cheques for the matching funds scheme should be mailed to PEHS c/o PEC County Archives, 261 Main St, P.O. Box 370, Wellington K0K 3L0. Cheques should be made payable to PEHS with “Hudgin Log House” on the memo line.

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