A 150-year-old cabin finds a new home near the restored post office, adding to area’s historic appeal
By Eric Deines
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A log cabin that sat in the Harrisburg countryside for the better part of two centuries found a new home on Friday on Robinson Church Road, near the Historic Harrisburg Post Office and General Mercantile.
The Historic Post Office has on display several artifacts and photographs from the town’s rich history.
And Ted McCachren, who supervised Friday’s cabin transport effort, said the cabin will likely be used in the same way as the former post office once some much needed restoration takes place.
“It’s going to be just like the store,” McCachren said. “It’s town property now, so it can’t be touched.”
Margaret Ann Stallings donated the cabin to the town.
“We know it’s been in my family for at least 150 years — probably 200,” Stallings said.
Up to Friday, the cabin sat out of sight from traffic, deep into a field off Lower Rocky River Road.
The entire cabin is made from white cedar logs, and had to be carefully secured for the move by Scott Grading & House Moving.
The team has been preparing the cabin for the move for the last couple of weeks.
“It’s not ever easy,” said grading and house moving company owner Sam Scott of the relocation of the cabin. “Ain’t none of them easy.”
For the five-mile drive from Lower Rocky River Road into Harrisburg, the caravan stayed at speeds of about 15 mph – though Scott hit a high of 30 mph on the N.C. 49 portion of the drive.
“Sam can get a lead foot now and then,” McCachren joked.
An upper level was removed to clear power lines.
People involved with the cabin’s relocation said the time of its construction has been estimated to be 1860 or before.
The most updated feature of the home, McCachren said, is a repair to the chimney that was dated 1991.
McCachren said there would be an effort to research the history of the cabin.
The chimney must be completely restored, and McCachren said he planned to speak with a high school masonry class to help rebuild the chimney.
He also said he hoped to get the brick donated for the project.
He said the building would be completely restored by volunteers.
McCachren said the building is in need of other repairs, as some wood was removed from the cabin – particularly a lower-level oak log.
“That’s probably up on somebody’s mantle somewhere,” McCachren said.
• Contact Eric C. Deines: 704-789-9141.