Nomination for Blakeslee Log Cabin

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

OMB No. 10024-0018 (Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service MAR - 6 1998 National Register of Historic Places NAT. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A"" for "not applicable."For functions, entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name - Whalen House; DeSorbes Family House (ATB-281-4) other names/site number 2. Location street & number L not for publication city or town_ X vicinity State 3.

State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination J request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of X meets -does not meet the National Register criteria.I recommend that this property be considered significant Dept Head Ohio Historic Preservation Office -- OH SHPO State of Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification Date of Action entered in the National Register. - See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the J removed from the National - other. (explain:) 2-10-98 Ashtabula Date Register.

National Register Ohio comments.) Registration Form Blakeslee Log Cabin RECEIVED 2280 441 Seven Hills Road NPS Form 10-900 Signature of certifying official/Title architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional code - zip code 44004 Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property I hereby certify that the property is: In my opinion,the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet for additional 319 Ashtabula County, Ohio 5. Classification (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) D building(s - districte _ Total Name of related multiple property listing 6. Function or Use 7.

Description No Style - Vernacular site Noncontributing Stone object structure public-State private public-Federal other public-local Current Functions Architectural Classification Museum roof Narrative Description Historic Functions foundation Materials walls in the National Register Number of Resources within Property Blakeslee Log Cabin Category of Property Ownership of Property Wood/logs and hand-hewn boards See attached continuation sheet. (Check as many boxes as apply) Number of contributing resources previously listed Wood Shingle "shake" DOMESTIC Single Dwelling (Enter categories from instructions) Name of Property County and State Check only one box (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) CMB Approval No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Blakeslee Log Cabin Ashtabula County, Ohio The Blakeslee Log Cabin is situated in a rural section of Plymouth Township, Ashtabula County. The entrance on Seven Hills Road is a gravel drive which is bordered on the east and west sides by a one-acre lawn (photo #1). The house, located on its original site, sits on a gentle rise and is surrounded by natural landscapes which include another acre of back lawn, a small woods with nominated property includes only the Blackslee Log Cabin. A series of recently constructed log outbuildings are not included in the nominated property. The log portion of the springhouse was reconstructed on its original site in 1991 from designs featured in the Western Reserve Magazine (May-June 1977) and Foxfire #4 (photo #5).

In addition to a historic dump site, there is an outdoor kitchen built in 1997, an ice house also built in 1997, and a log lavatory built in 1993 The plan of the Blakeslee Log Cabin is characteristic of rectangular double room houses with covered with hand-reved wooden shakes. The porch shingles are visible from the porch floor.

The east/west doors are complemented by the one window on the center of the south wall and The following changes have been made to the log cabin since the date of construction: the porch was changed in 1991 to accommodate a wooden floor whereas the original floor was dirt; all sill logs were replaced with the same dimension tulip poplar logs, the same type of wood originally used; all stones under the sill log were re-laid to prevent nature's critters from inhabiting the cabin; one small section of the west wall that was removed by previous tenants was replaced with a stud wall renewed with logs of original dimensions; (the interior vertical wall has been replaced with original boards uncovering wallpaper possibly dating to 1860).

The sagging ceiling joist was reinforced in 1996 with a steel plate to form a new supporting beam; the badly sagging joist in the main room has been replaced with hand-hewn logs; the upstairs loft remains the same with notching. nomination. Description native trees and a free-flowing spring laid with rocks enclosed by a log springhouse.The a Franklin stove on the opposite wall (photo #6).

The walls are split logs 16" to 18" thick, hand- hewn to form a smooth interior surface.Exterior walls are rough hewn with half dovetail corner axis (photos #2 and #7).The cabin has a gabled roof.The original roof boards have been front and back doors facing each other on the east (rear) and west(front) sides of the cabin.It (photos #3 and #4).All of these structures and the dump site lie outside the boundaries of the NPS Form 10-900-a measures 21 feet by 28 feet and is one and one-half stories tall and sits on a perfect north/south Page (8-86) Section number 7 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Section number Blakeslee Log Cabin the exception of new sawn floorboards from donated local native trees; the stairway to the loft remains in the same location but with new wood for added strength. Circa 1965-1970, prior to historical society ownership, the Blakeslee Log Cabin was covered with vertical siding, but it since has been removed. The integrity of this site has been maintained even with the intrusion of the railroad right-of-way at the back of the property and construction of a cellular phone tower at the end of the property and the construction of a major freeway on the east side of the property. The view from the log cabin remains pristine and rural. various varieties of native trees growing throughout the property.

A historic dump site located Although it cannot be substantiated, the dump site has the potential to produce archaeological information that can increase our understanding of the lifestyles and economic status of the Blakeslees (Oral history, James Stevenson). Bordering the railroad right-of-way is a one to one and one-half acre spring fed pond with aquatic birds, wildlife, etc. in attendance. Page (8-86) Continuation Sheet Description (cont'd) surrounding the waterway. The opposite side of the ravine contains eight mature apple trees and Ashtabula County, Ohio In the 40-foot ravine on the east side of the cabin is a natural flowing waterway with woods near the springhouse may include features that date to the original occupation of the cabin. Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Areas of Significance (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property CLA Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. - B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. X C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and ca. 1810 D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) Significant Person - B removed from its original location. - C a birthplace or grave. - D a cemetery. - E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. - F a commemorative property. -G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years.

Narrative Statement of Significance 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References (Cite the books,articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): N/A - preliminary determination of individual listing (36 X State Historic Preservation Office CFR 67) has been requested - Other State agency -previously listed in the National Register - Federal agency - previously determined eligible by the National - Local government - University - designated a National Historic Landmark - Other - recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey - recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # Register Bibilography Architecture Property is: Criteria Considerations religious purposes. Cultural Affiliation individual distinction.

Significant Dates Architect/Builder County and State Unknown Period of Significance Blakeslee Log Cabin distinguishable entity whose components lack (Enter categories from instructions) for National Register listing.) Ashtabula County, Ohio Name of repository: Primary location of additional data: Applicable National Register Criteria A owned by a religious institution or used for (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) Ashtabula County, Chio County and State 10. Geographical Data (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.) - See continuation sheet (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By -date street & number_P.O. Box 36 _telephone_ (216) 993-7846 (Mr.

Stevenson' s city or town - - state - _ zip code Submit the following items with the completed form: Maps (already submitted on 2/18/97) A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. Photographs (Updated listing for black-white photographs attached along with photo reproducti Representative black and white photographs of the property. (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) (Complete this item at the request of SHPO or FPO.) Ashtabula County Historical Society street & number - - telephone Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This informationis being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form.

Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. 44047 Jefferson Home) Zone Northing Easting Ohio Additional Documentation UTM References 7/17/97 name/title James T. Stevenson organization _Ashtabula County Historical Society Blakeslee Log Cabin Boundary Justification Property Owner (216) 993-7846 Verbal Boundary Description Name of Property Additional items (Describe the boundaries of the property ona continuation sheet.) Continuation Sheets (For Sections 7 & 8 are attached.) A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Acreage of Property less than one acre February 18, 1997 resubmitted P.O. Box 36 properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings.

Response to this request is required to obtain Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including time for reviewing name OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Blakeslee Log Cabin The Blakeslee Log Cabin, Ashtabula County, is being nominated to the National Register under Criterion C. Built ca. 1810, it is a rare surviving example, located on its original site, associated with early settlement in Ohio. While log architecture is still extant throughout much of southern and eastern Ohio, early surviving examples in the Western Reserve are relatively scarce.

The Blakeslees, one of the first families to settle in Ashtabula Township, Ashtabula County, characterize the broad pattern of early exploration and settlement in the section of the state known as the Western Reserve. state: the square house, the rectangular single or double room house, the double pen house Blakeslee Log Cabin is representative of an early double room house type built by Ohio settlers. It was a practical solution to the problem of achieving the maximum of space with a minimum of material and effort (Hutslar, 27). This form, because it was built throughout the houses, it has never been enlarged.

largely existent: these consist of 90 percent of the original logs in the walls and rafters, original roof boards, the wall partition separating the main room from the sleeping rooms, the setting with trees, fields, and natural spring with rocks for the spring house in the original While other log cabin homes were undoubtedly built in Ashtabula County during the settlement period, one log house known as the Hybert house (built by Swedish born Heybert) Significance 1810, it is a one and one-half story, side gabled dwelling. Unlike the majority of Ohio log stone wall beneath the sill, and the rectangular double room configuration. The original rural location help to convey its association as an early nineteenth century pioneer home.

of a rectangular double-room log house in Ashtabula County, a building type closely whereas almost all of its log contemporaries in the area have been lost.Constructed ca. Ashtabula County, Ohio During Ohio's early settlement period, four basic types of log houses were built across the The essential design features and original materials of the Blakeslee Log Cabin are still significance is derived partially from the fact that as an early house type it has survived, and the saddlebag house (Hutslar,66-67).The rectangular double room floor plan of the NPSForm 10-900-a Page state, cannot be attributed to any particular ethnic group or cultural hearth. The Blakeslee's Section number - OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Blakeslee Log Cabin still exists on Tower Road in Dorset Township ca. 1817 (not yet inventoried).

The Hybert in the Swedish style of construction.It is currently owned by Frank Carlo of Ashtabula, Ohio [Ashtabula County Deed Records]. No other log structures in Ashtabula County have been of the Western Reserve of the Connecticut Land Company. This land was surveyed by metes and accessibility to Lake Erie attracted many settlers from Connecticut and the upper East had visited Ashtabula County and worked for the Hubbard family before returning to parchment, a stone hearth, and dirt floor. Additional rooms were added as the family in #12, Third Range (where the nominated property is located) for approximately $5,000 total wooden boards for floors were added. [Source: Knepper, Ohio and Its People, pp. 121-122].

The availability of inexpensive land, abundant wildlife, wooded forests, free-flowing streams more pronounced across Ohio, the earliest method of constructing a log building had been to expanded. Eventually some were modernized with the installation of siding over the logs and Williams Edwards and Joseph Barrel in 1798 and later sold in sections to incoming settlers. nominated property was originally purchased from the Connecticut Land Company by (Hutslar, 11). Once the land was cleared a rudimentary log house was constructed consisting of one room, a wood shake shingled roof, a door, one or two windows covered with greased while clearing the forest land and planting the first crops.Before settlement had become Coast. By 1820 Ashtabula County had a population of 7,375.According to Ohio historian which illustrates the site and original design of the cabin).

Nehemiah Hubbard also purchased 16,000 acres directly from the Connecticut Land Company John Blakeslee was born in Plymouth, Connecticut on January 29, 1789. Prior to 1810, he George W. Knepper, the first settlers erected temporary shelters constructed of poles and bark Ashtabula County, Ohio Continuation Sheet listed in the National Register or Ohio Historic Inventory. Significance (cont'd) (approximately $ .40 per acre), date unknown. House is a two story structure with hewn logs and square notches at the corners and was built erect it in the midst of a forest, so the logs did not have to be moved far to the building site (See enclosed reproduction photograph depicting the configuration of the log cabin ca.

1950 National Register of Historic Places The nominated property is located in the extreme northeastern section of Ohio that was part NPS Form 10-900-a and bounds which sets it apart from most adjacent land grants. Property surrounding the Page (8-86) Section number - 8 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Connecticut early in 1810. Mr. Blakeslee returned to Ashtabula County before the winter of 1810 where he is listed in the federal census of 1810 as being a residential farmer on the south part of Ashtabula. In 1813, he married Ester R. (maiden name unknown) whose family were pioneers from Nehemiah Hubbard in the Ashtabula Harbor area.

Asher Blakeslee (John's grandfather) Blakeslee did not have clear title to his property until 1820 and deed states that the buildings were already erected on that site. [Ashtabula County Deed Records, Pages 718]. In 1817, Sala Blakeslee and his wife, Mary, along with sons Garwood, Sala II, and William; daughters, Sabra, Mary Caroline, and Asenath (who later married Sherman Hubbard in 1828) moved to Ashtabula County. Also known is the fact that one of the daughters is a local settler by the name of Scoville.It is also believed that two daughters of the Sala Blakeslee family remained in Plymouth, Connecticut and did not come with family at that time. Around this time, a two-room shed was built on the north end of the house. log cabin and Charlotte and three sons: Hobart, Chauncey and Salmon who died in 1825 at died at age 65. Ester died in 1865 at age 75.

After John's death, his younger brother, Sala II, continued to work the farm until he married Lidea Pierce in 1830 and emigrated four years later to Oquawka, Illinois and later settled in Knox County, Illinois. At the time of this departure to Illinois, Sala's sister-in-law Ester Previous to 1871, the property was owned by George Willard who later sold the property to Julia Whalen, who resided in the log cabin until 1902. It was then purchased by the DeSorbes family who lived there until 1989. In 1989, the Ashtabula County Historical Society purchased the land and the existing cabin. Blakeslee Log Cabin remained at the cabin.

Significance (cont'd) purchased 380 acres of land adjacent to the lands owned by John G.Blakeslee.John Ashtabula County, Ohio age four.John G.Blakeslee died in 1827 at age 39.In1830,Sala Blakeslee(father of John) Plymouth,Connecticut.In1815,Sala father),purchased 193 acres from John G.and Ester had two daughters:Lucy who later married Felix Ross and occupied the Page (8-86) Section number 8 CMB Approval No 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Ashtabula County, Ohio Significance (cont'd) The Blakeslee family was very active in the community.

Along with the other nine pioneer families, originally from the same area of Plymouth, Connecticut, they succeeded in organizing the first Episcopal church in Ashtabula County, believed to also be among the first Episcopal churches located west of the Alleghenies. St. James Episcopal Church in Boardman (NROHP 6/20/79) was the first Episcopal congregation in the state-1807. St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Ashtabula had its first recorded service in the Blakeslee cabin in 1813. (See letter dated April 21, 1997 from Reverend T. Conrad Selnick, The Vestry, Wardens, and Page Continuation Sheet Rector for St. Peter's Episcopal Church). Blakeslee Log Cabin Section number 8 NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO Section number Ashtabula County Deed Records, Volume 46, Page 885 & Hand- Fink, George (Compiled By), Ancestor Chart, Vancouver, Press, 1986. (FIGURE 116-2).

Knepper, George W., Ohio and Its People, Kent State Ohio Historical Society, Ohio History, Volume 80, Numbers Sloane, Eric, Series of Books, Early American Tools, Not Sloane, Eric, Series of Books, Reverence For Wood, Not Selnick, Rev. Conrad, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, (Letter dated April 21, 1997), United States Census Records, 1810. Widdington, Eliot (Edited By), Fox Fire, Book Numbers 3, 4, 5 1878, 1878. 1985. 1944. Available. BIBLIOGRAPHY National Register of Historic Places Ashtabula County Genealogical Society, Quarterly Periodicals, Continuation Sheet Page. United States Department ot the Interlor Williams Bros. (Publishers), Ashtabula County History 1798- BLAKESLEE LOG CABIN Woodward, William, The Way Our People Lived, Dutton Press, Hutslar, Donald A., The Architecture of Migration: Log Press, 1939 and reprinted in 1967. Western Reserve Magazine, Issues May thru June, 1977.

Timeline Magazine, Ohio Historical Society, June-July Issue, Shurtleff, Harold R., The Log Cabin Myth, Harvard University University Press, 1989. National Park Servica 711 SEVEN HILLS ROAD 4, 1971. 1996 and 1997. written scripted Deed from 1810 to 1824. Washington, August 21, 1987. Construction in the Ohio Country, 1750-1850, Ohio University NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Section number Photosq10 Page -1 February 25, 1997 71 Seven Hills Road, Ashtabula, Ohio PHOTOGRAPH #1: SOUTH AND WEST ELEVATIONS, LOOKING NORTHEAST PHOTOGRAPH #2: NORTH AND EAST ELEVATIONS, LOOKING SOUTHWEST PHOTOGRAPH #3: CABIN AND LAVORATORY, LOOKING SOUTHEAST PHOTOGRAPH #4: LAVORATORY, LOOKING NORTH-NORTHEAST (OUTSIDE BOUNDARIES) PHOTOGRAPH #5: SPRING HOUSE BEHIND CABIN, LOOKING WEST PHOTOGRAPH #6: INTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTH-NORTHWEST PHOTOGRAPH #7: SOUTH AND EAST ELEVATIONS, LOOKING NORTHWEST 10. Verbal Boundary Description The property is a rectangular parcel measuring 36 X 53 feet, or 15 feet from the edge of the resource.

The boundaries selected include all of the nominated resource, being a rural property National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Boundary Justification Ashtabula County, Ohio after 1948. The above information is the same for all the photographs submitted: Gregg Leary less than one acre.Resources adjacent yet outside the boundaries were all constructed Blakeslee Log Cabin (8-86) BLAKESLEE LOG CABIN Ashtabula County, Ohio NOMINATED PROPERTY SUMMER KITCHEN + NORTH MERB GARDEN - UTILITY WOODED AREA TRAILS TO POND BLAKESLEE HOME SITE PLAN BOUNDARIES OF SITE SPRING HOUSE NOT TO SCALE UNOERGROUNO TO CABIN ICE HOUSE POLE WOODED AREAE WALKING TRAILS POLE FENCE 163 FT. TO SEVEN HILLS RD.

LOG CABIA SIGA TOILETS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET NAME : NOMINATOR: STATE OTHER : N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: COMMENT WAIVER: N ABSTRACT /SUMMARY COMMENTS: DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N TELEPHONE DATE RETURN MULTIPLE REJECT REVIEWER DISCIPLINE 4/20/98 3/06/98 PDIL: RECOM./CRITERIA NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: DATE OF 16TH DAY: REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION STATE & COUNTY: OHIO, Ashtabula REFERENCE NUMBER: 98000319 PROPERTY 4/0/98 Blackeslee Log Cabin REASONS FOR REVIEW: = slides 2-25.97 Blakeslee ASTABULA CO. OHIO Blaleslee BLAKESLEE LOG CABIN BLAKESLEE LOG CABIN ASTABULA CO. Blakeslee ASHTABULA CO. BLAKGSLEE NNE OHIO BLAKESLEE ASHTABULA CO.

HISTORICAL THE ASHTABULA NNW Blakislee OHIO Blakeslec -ASHTABULA CO., OH 1T/519150/4632350 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES ASHTABULA SOUTH QUADRANGLE ASHTABULA SOUTH, OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 25 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) Light-duty STATE OF OHIO OHIO-ASHTABULA CO. Ohio Historic Preservation Office 567 East Hudson Street Columbus, Ohio 43211-1030 614/ 297-2470 Fax: 614/ 297-2496 Visit us at www.ohiohistory.org/resource/histpres/ SINCE 1885 National Register, History d Education Programs Mail Stop 2280, Suite 400 1849 C. Street, NW Enclosed please find three (3) new National Register nominations. All appropriate NEW SUBMISSION If you have questions or comments about these documents, please contact this office. Amos J. Loveday, Jr. State Historic Preservation Officer COUNTY SOCIETY Cuyahoga Ashtabula enclosures Sincerely, Lucas February 25, 1998 HISTORICAL Maumee Theater Dear Ms.

Shull: Hotel Statler Blakeslee Log Cabin National Park Service notification procedures have been followed for these new submissions. Washington, D. C. 20240 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief of Registration