Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-17
old LANDMARK
BEING TORN DOWN
ONE OF oTTUMWA'S MOST HIS
ToRlc STRUCTURES GIVES
WAY TO THE MODERN.
ROOSE LOG CABIN
Built by Early Settler From Kentucky
in 1853 of Cottonwood Logs
Neighbors Helped to
Build It.

After standing prominently at the
crest of Main street where May street
terminates in the east end of the
city, an old land mark of more than
half century, the building known as
the old Roose cabin, Is being torn
down and modern cottage will re-
place it. The work of razing the old
structure was begun yesterday morn
ing and surprise as we'll as curiosity
drew many persons to the scene OF
the work as the news of the tearing
down of the old log cabin was passed
around the neighborhood. Many Of
the people living in that vicinity knew
of the old "Roose" homestead, but
only the older people were aware that
the building was cabin made Of logs.
For the past quarter of century the
building has been weather boarded
and except for quaint style of ar
chitecture there was nothing to indi-
cate that there was anything especial
ly unusual about the house.
Attracts Crowd.
While curiosity caused the younger
people of the vicinity to gather about
the yard in which the old house
stands; to the old neighbors, some few
of whom can claim to be old settlers
a different reason called them to the
scene of the destruction of the old
landmark. Some of the grey haired
old men among the spectators could
be heard in conversation regarding
memories the scene of the old cabin
brought back to their minds, saying,
Things have changed a sight since
the old cabin was put up" and my
but it makes us fellows who were lads
at that time, seem pretty old chaps
now" and We'll, well, but the town
has spread out since we were chaps"
By listening to the older settlers,
some of whom were in the crowd of
watchers as the siding was stripped
from the walls of the house and re-
vealed primitive log cabin. the story
of the building was brought to light
Many Lend Hand.
There are some of the men around
yet who helped put up that, old cabin"
said Dolphus Roemer, who is perhaps
as familiar with the history of early
Ottumwa and this section of Wapello
county as any Of the early settlers
that still reside in Ottumwa. That old
cabin is fifty-six years DID," continued
this we'll known old gentleman, as he
called attention to the state Of pre-
servation in which the logs still re-
main. 1T was built in 1853 and was
erected from cottonwood logs cut
right here in this neighborhood.
Among the men that I recall who help
ed to build the cabin were Major John
Woods, his brothers Chris and Hamp
Woods and Dan and Tom Traul, the
others | can't just now recall
High Water Responsible.
"You see,' continued Mr. Roemer
"the high water that at times menaced
the lowlands along the river caused
the owner of the building to seek
! higher ground The man for whom
the cabin was originally built and Of
course, who superintendent its erection
was old Mike Roose, an uncle Of &c
Watcher. Roose came from
Kentucky to this place in 1S48 anc
settled near the river at the bottom Of
this hill where he farmed. The higl
water that caused so much damage
here in 1851 was responsible for the
building of the cabin and in 1853 the
work was done.
Changed Hands.
"Roose died some twenty years age
and the property later came into thu
hands of Ed Rhoads who lives east o
the city near Agency. Later the lat'
James Gray bought it and it Is nov
in the possession of his widow Per
haps thirty years ago, weather board
ing was put on the cabin and man.
of the young men and women VIII,
have been born and raised in this emf
Of town do not remember the hous
as having been an old-time log cabin
Later by several years, the house wa
altered and the roof changed by tn
, building of gable which changed tn
appearance of the original structur
, considerable. There is but few NOR
of the old-time houses now standing Il
, this end of town."
The work of Contractor Samuel Mi
| Ter who Is engaged in razing the oil
structure in order to replace it wit
! modern dwelling has been hamper
DON'T BE MISLEAD.
q 20 hoc CHI