Historical Society restores Log Cabin Museum

By Barbara McLaurine

The 1851 Log Cabin Museum, located just off the Main Street Historic District, requires restoration. The nineteenth-century log home once stood at Still’s Cross Roads near the Pike County line of South Bullock County. It was given to the Bullock County Historical Society in 1980 by the James Burks family, who owned it since 1976. The following year in 1981, the Log Cabin was moved to Union Springs on a lot behind the Old Cemetery facing Blackmon Street. The Cabin has been owned by the Kirkland, Brooks, and Burks families.

The Bullock County Historical Society contracted with local contractor Bruce Anderson to begin the rehabilitation of the Cabin in phases. Phase one has been completed. The Cabin has been structurally stabilized and front and back porches have been replaced with new steps. Cypress posts now support the porch roofs. Water has been diverted from undermining the support system.

The second phase will involve replacing damaged logs and repairing wooden roof shingles. The third stage will be repairing the chimney. To complete phase two, the Society has begun a fundraising effort to complete the project.

The Society is a 501©3 Organization, and donations are tax-deductible. Donations may be mailed to the Bullock County Historical Society, P. O. Box 563, Union Springs, Alabama 36089.

Bullock County Historical President Dean Spratlan stated, “The Log Cabin is an important part of Bullock County history. We must preserve it for future generations to know what it took to settle in present-day Bullock County. The Cabin is living history of being enjoyed. We look forward to opening the Cabin again to the public.”

This is part one of three articles covering the Log Cabin history. The second article will be about The Rueben, Rice, and Kirkland family and the third about the family of Elmyra P. Brooks.