Restoration of Apollo's historic Drake Log Cabin complete

The Apollo Area Historical Society had the town’s historic Drake Log Cabin “chinked” recently to restore the mortar mix between the logs.

Bob Reintgen, a historic carpenter from Latrobe, and his team of workers installed new chinking between the logs on the front of the 206-year-old log home.

Using material akin to mortar, chinking not only keeps wind and the weather from entering the log structure but also helps shed water from around the building, Reintgen said.

“Our pioneers were pretty smart,” he said.

Reintgen restores historic buildings around the region.

“I’m very proud that the Apollo Area Historical Society has a beautiful historical building, and they are maintaining it,” he said.

The society paid $3,500 for the restoration project with a grant and donations. It plans on raising more funds for chinking the rest of the historic cabin.

The cabin was last chinked in the early 1970s when the society bought the old log home located in Apollo along Williams Alley near the intersection of Second Avenue.

“We’ve needed to do this for a couple of years,” said Denise Flickinger, the society’s president.

The society routinely pays for maintenance including spraying a coating to prevent termites and other boring insects from damaging the structure. They replaced the roof about 40 years ago, and it’s still holding up, she said.

The log cabin has no electricity or running water.

The fireplace is functional and can be used to heat the old building. Flickinger said the society uses it sparingly.

The Drake Log Cabin was built around 1816, although the earliest deed is dated 1862, when the cabin was sold to Mrs. Sarah Drake for $312, according to the society. The cabin was named for Mrs. Drake.

The Society opens the cabin to the public for special events. On July 10, there will be a free presentation on the underground railroad, the network used to help slaves escape the South before the Civil War.

Visit the Society’s Facebook page for details.