The 1835 Log Cabin

Settlers often held their land long before a deed could be secured.  The Wintemute deed dates the cabin back to 1818.  Log homes of this exact size and shape were compulsory for a land allotment by government order dated York 1798.  When the Six Nations lands were opened for settlement around 1834 or 35, one of the early pioneers Thomas Nicholas built his log cabin beside the plank road in Oneida, Highway 6.  The Nicholas family came from South Cornwall along the English Channel.  They emigrated to Canada in 1832, located in St. Andrews, Ontario, moved to Calendonia in 1835.  When the family outgrew the little log cabin, additions were made.  Windows were covered over leaving no remains of the former pioneer structure.

Later, the Wintemute family was the owner of the farm home.  The cabin was last used as a home in 1960 and was still owned by the Wintemutes.  In June, 1960 the home was threatened with its removal from the site or to be demolished as there were plans for development of Highway 6.  During the demolition carpenters found that the log cabin was almost in perfect condition.  Mr .Wintemute kindly donated it to the Haldimand Historical Society.

In the fall of 1960 the society became part of Haldimand County and under its jurisdiction as the Haldimand County Museum.  The County arranged for the logs from the cabin to be brought to Cayuga and stored in the jail yard for the winter to be treated for any insects.  Dick Metcalfe, John Metcalfe's father, was the jailor at the time.  The log cabin was rebuilt in 1961 and opened in October of that year.

This year, the current Haldimand County Council has approved an administrative recommendation that the Court House Grounds be cleared of public buildings.  The log cabin is destined to be moved to a location in Cheapside near Selkirk - the Wilson MacDonald Museum.



Future Location of Log Cabin

[Photo:  Court House Grounds lbw]