Whats happening?

It is now May 2007 and in the last month and a bit there has been a bit of progress on the restoration front. Important people have come to visit me and the prescription is as follows:

1. Clean lichen moss etc off roof
2. Sand down, prepare and repaint all exterior, including barge boards.
Remove rot in porch step at front.
3. Jack up building, replace rotting/deficient piles with new.
4. Remove chimney, install concrete pad and replace chimney onto it
5. Sand down and thoroughly prepare all interior surfaces and repaint.
6. Replace bench in kitchen with stainless steel, including new sink and taps
7. Incorporate stove into bench
8. Install new cupboards under bench
9. Windows may need easing and re-hanging following the leveling and repiling of the building

There is no guarantee as to how much of this work will be done, because it will depend largely on how much it costs. Estimates have previously been $40, 000 and the budgets have been suggested at $20, 000 I hope I will get more than half fixed....

Meanwhile the everyday activities continue the Hobbies ladies have begun their new project, the painter's meet fortnightly and would welcome some new company, the art classes are back on for this term.

The Hobbies Group meet on Tuesday mornings they chat and share a cup of tea while working on various projects sometimes for them selves and then at other times they work on a collaborative project which is raffled to raise money for worthwhile causes.

I thought it would be nice to show you a quilt they produced which raised money for the First Response and Beachlands Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Applause!!!!

The motifs of this quilt are all native New Zealand flowers and the individual leaves and petals were all buttonhole stitched. Just wonderful.

The Hobbies Group will be making a Rag Rug next, anyone is welcome to join.

Great News!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

This last Monday evening the Clevedon Community Board passed a recommendation that says

"9. That the Property Unit proceeds with improvement works to the Log Cabin as an urgent project in the 2006/07 programme."

This means I can look forward to a face lift (soon) and that should ensure I stay standing just a little longer than otherwise.

l.o.l. to all those out there who care,
Cheers.

The Log Cabin

P.S. The Log Cabin Arts Collective looks set to be up and running by July 2007 .
The Clevedon Community Boards study also comments that

The Beachlands Hall could include a focus on visual arts, with the possibility of some low cost building development on the land behind the hall to provide for art work and pottery.

A Brief History

The Log Cabin

“The Log Cabin, situated in Wakelin Road, Beachlands, is of great interest and historically the most important building in our area.

The Cabin was built in 1929 by Mr and Mrs Will Grove. They and their family had lived in Canada for three or four years and then immigrated to New Zealand at the turn of the century.

The Cabin was built primarily as a holiday home. The Cedar logs and shingles were brought here from Canada by steamer. Beachlands had a wharf in those days and the steamer was the main form of transport. There was a large flat rock just off the wharf which was used as a tidal guide. When the water covered the rocks then there was sufficient draught for the steamer to dock there.

The Norfolk Pine that is a landmark to many boaties was planted by Will Grove in 1930.

The interior of the cabin is unusual. The door of Cedar logs has a slide bolt which is latched with a knot of wood- real “Daniel Boone” style! The fire surround is constructed of stone the chimney of cobblestones- all from nearby east coast beaches. The mantlepiece is a log of pine the bark is still there.

The timber of the cabin was oiled until recently, when it was painted. There are corner cupboards on the living area with drawers that slide out sideways. The walls of the bedrooms in the corners are stored in the roof space in case the house is restored to its original style.

Will Grove died in 1940, and his wife Olive made the cabin her permanent home until 1960-61. Her daughter Betty Grove was the next owner, and in 1964 she reroofed with Decramastic tiles but the shingle roof is still underneath.

Manukau City Council aquired the property in 1974 for a public reserve and the house for a community centre.

Over the years the cabin has been the home of five different families and their love for this delightful abode can be felt as you enter the cabin. ”

* this is taken from the wall inside the cabin.

Whats on @ the Log Cabin

I the Log Cabin enjoy being occupied and am therefore available for groups to use.

On Tuesday Morning’s my long time friends the Hobbies Group get together and work on various projects that often are used to raise funds for special causes.

On Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning and afternoon there are Art classes for both Adult beginners and Children.

On Thursday mornings fortnightly there is a social painter’s group also an old group of friends who meet and paint, all levels are welcome.

On Thursday afternoons there are the Bridge players.

More groups are planned and if you are interested in any of these please email Jacqueline at jacquifire@yahoo.co.uk with the title Log Cabin.

Log Cabin signing in

This is Sunkist Bay on a bad day!
This is the Me

Me at Sunkist Bay in Beachlands

This blog is dedicated to the preservation of me the Log Cabin at Sunkist Bay in Beachlands.
If you have no idea where I am then check your world map for a place called New Zealand.
On the eastern edge of Manukau City is my rural community.
Sunkist Bay is a council owned reserve and I am a 1920's Canadian Log Cabin which looks out over a world class sea view.
My Beachland's and Maraetai communities have been using me as a venue for the humanities for a quarter century.
We are young in the greater histories of the world but here I am old and I represents a small part of this area's heritage.

Please use this blog in any way to share your feelings and knowledge about conservation of old buildings in any part of the world including myne.
I aim to be here for the next generation.