From left, Richard D. Ackley, Jr., public relations/marketing, Pat O’Neil, executive director Northwoods NiiJii Enterprise Corp., and Steve Woods, grants writer. |
Dinesen cabin restoration underway using mix of private, public funds Oct. 10, 2009 The long-awaited restoration of the historic Dinesen House northeast of Antigo is now underway.
The log cabin, which was built in the late 1860s and early 1870s, sits on its original location within the boundaries of the Mole Lake Indian reservation. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Properties, with its construction and architecture representative of early pioneer life as well as a northwoods connection to writer Isak Dinesen, the Danish author of the acclaimed “Out of Africa.”
Dinesen’s father, Wilhelm, lived in the cabin among the Chippewa tribe from in 1872 and 1873.
Contractors are stripping away countless decades of old paint, flooring and a mish-mash of amateur remodeling projects as well as installing windows and doors. Two years ago the roof was replaced with original cedar shakes.
“The project is on schedule for completion by the end of December this year,” grant writer Steve Woods said.
The total cost of the project including the historic research and landscape is $232,300.
Future plans allow for authentic period furnishings to bring it back to life and help establish it as a legitimate tourism attraction for Forest County, Wisconsin and the nation.
Through the work of Woods, the cabin was able to be listed as one of Wisconsin’s most endangered properties, a preamble to its national registry status.
This project is phase one of a $1.2 million cultural complex for Mole Lake and additional fund raising is expected. The Sokaogon Community provided $50,000 through a trust established by a BHP Billiton gift that is managed by the Madison Community Foundation.
The log cabin project was initially seed funded through USDA rural development monies allocated to the Northwoods NiiJii Enterprise Community, Inc. The goal of the enterprise community program is to create sustainable economic tourism projects which help eradicate poverty in certain pockets of America’s rural areas. The U.S. Parks Service and the Jeffris Foundation, Janesville, have been major contributors to the project along with the Sokaogon community.
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