A link to the early settlers

By DORIS COOK - Staff Writer
Star Beacon

September 07, 2008 01:41 am

— PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP — Blakeslee Log Cabin is probably the only original log home left in Ashtabula County to remind folks of a link to the early settlers trekking here from New England. On Saturday and again today the Ashtabula County Historical Society volunteers and friends will link up with the past for the 19th annual Log Cabin Days festival.
Hundreds of visitors flocked Saturday to the cabin site grounds on Seven Hills Road, west off of Route 11. They came to eat homemade bean soup, corn on the cob, pies, pork sausage sandwiches, listen to old-time country music or watch artisans demonstrate everything from basketmaking to spinning.
It drizzled rain Saturday morning until the noon opening, then the sun shone bright as visitors flowed in.
Carl and Sue DeBarr of Ashtabula were enjoying the festival food and planned to be back again today.
“We come every year. Today we’ll bring friends from our Baptist church in Ashtabula,” DeBarr said.
ACHS volunteer Mary Hedberg of Ashtabula enlisted the help of her daughter and son-in-law, Meg and Glen Graham of Cincinnati. The Grahams drove up early Saturday morning with daughters, Maggie and Libby, who helped serve food while Glen was recruited to park cars.
It was a mini-family reunion for Anne Hazeltine of Ashtabula, whose children and grandchildren from Ft. Erie, Ontario, Canada, and Denmark Township came to Log Cabin Days.
“We love coming here. We still have relatives from all over Ashtabula County,” said Amy Hazeltine Roebuck of Ft. Erie.
ACHS trustee Julie Grandbouche, dressed in pioneer attire, took charge of the bean soup preparation. She said the beans are soaked in water overnight to begin.
“We’ve used this same recipe for years I think, then just add to it. There’s no secret recipe,” she laughed.
Two huge kettles of soup were cooked over an open fire all day Saturday and sold out by evening. Another batch is made for today’s expected crowd, Grandbouche said.
“On Saturday we cooked 30 pounds of white navy beans, added veggies, six pounds of ham and eight ham hocks and seasoning. It’s served with corn bread,” she said.
ACHS board president, Cheryl Shepard was pleased with the steady sizable crowd for Saturday. With more sunshine expected today, the attendance numbers should be up, she said.
“People come to see the old cabin and are impressed with the festivities. They come back each year and it’s a big fundraiser for us,” Shepard said.
Magic Touch, a country band of four local musicians, kept toes tapping with their music featuring old-time tunes and bluegrass selections. The group included Roger Wade of Rome, Hank Sekula of Ashtabula, led by John Fisher of Saybrook and Carol Hill of Geneva on the keyboard. Fisher brought out his acoustic fiddle for a few tunes much to the delight of the crowd.
Basketmaking artists, Cheryl Petro, Linda Pasky and Phyllis Clark were busy showing and explaining their art. Joining them under the tent were Denise Wade of Thompson and Candace Barr of Madison, members of the Western Reserve Rug Hookers Guild.
Soap making, an apple butter stirring and apple cider pressing kept the interest of lots of children. Well known blacksmith Claar Butcher of Windsor worked up a sweat showing how tools were made in the early days centuries ago.
Civil War times were reflected by re-enactor Marvin Knasel taking on the role of an artillery soldier. Knasel and his wife shared bits of history about the Civil War era.
The Rev. David Evans, pastor of St. Peters Episcopal Church in Ashtabula, led a group of vespers inside the cabin at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Evans said the cabin was used also as a church meetinghouse in 1817.
“The first pioneers, who came here from New England, missed how to practice their faith. They used the Book of Common Prayer. Those pioneers formed a parish called St. Peters, which later moved to the Ashtabula,” the pastor said.
Today the festivities continue from noon to 5 p.m. At 1 p.m. the society will hold a brief ceremony recognizing three people, who helped restore the cabin and develop the grounds. The trio being honored are the late Gene Battles, John “Joe” Stevenson and Ed Andolsek.