Palmer Park’s log cabin restoration unveiled this weekend

Detroit’s historic log cabin is undergoing a much-needed renovation.

Over the past few years, work has been underway to restore the 132-year-old log cabin in Palmer Park. Last summer, the City of Detroit announced $400,000 in restoration work to stabilize the cabin, which had fallen into great disrepair. The work completed includes a new cedar shingle roof, foundation, porch canopy, and back wall. The People for Palmer Park have raised funds to restore the stained glass windows. Now, it will be open for the public.

Photo by Barbara Barefield

Concerts in the Cabin will be held Saturday, June 24 with music from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., plus wine and refreshments. Tickets are $50-60.

Sunday, June 25 is Log Cabin Day, which is free to the public from 1-5 p.m. Festivities include an ice cream social, music, square dancing, and historians and actors in period attire.

Future restoration work will include lighting installation, chimney restorations, all interior woodwork, fixing the historic pocket doors, new sidewalks and rebuilding the historic kitchen. Here’s a peek at some of the stained glass windows that have been restored by Sevonty Restorations.

Photo by Barbara Barefield

Photo by Barbara Barefield

This will be one of the only times the log cabin will be open to the public this year. It was built in 1885 by Senator Thomas Palmer and his wife, Lizzie, as their summer retreat. A few more historical and recent photos can be found here.