Rudy and Patti Rudolph at the Hessler Log Home; Lighthouse Park, Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Rudy and Patti Rudolph at the Hessler Log Home; Lighthouse Park, Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
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While I was off celebrating my daughter’s 26th birthday in California (more on that later), my Gazette field reporters sent along some photos from the annual Log Cabin Day that took place on Sunday, June 25.

And by Gazette field reporters, that means everyone, including you! If you have pics of things happening in your OMP neighborhood or events you’ve attended, feel free to email them to me, [email protected], or text them to me, (231) 590-4715.

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The annual Log Cabin Day, hosted by the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, is part of a statewide celebration of pioneer cabins. The restored Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park is always open during the summer months, but only open for tours on this one day of the year. Mission Point Lighthouse is also open for tours, but on this day, any funds earned go towards the Historical Society.

The historic Peter Dougherty Mission House and the Replica Log Church (the displays inside were recently re-done), both on Mission Road, were also open for Log Cabin Day (and are open for tours during the summer months).

In the 1990s, the Hessler cabin was moved from its original location at Underwood Farms to Lighthouse Park, where it was restored by volunteers who then formed the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, a 501C3 organization, to continue its maintenance. Later, the group worked to have Peninsula Township acquire the historic Dougherty House, which now operates its own 501 nonprofit organization.

Here are a few photos from my cousin, Phyllis Cooley (her dad, Guy Johnson, and my dad, Walter Johnson, were brothers who grew up on our home farm just north of Mapleton).

Nancy Schulte gives a tour of the Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Nancy Schulte gives a tour of the Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Laura Johnson and Civil War Poet and Storyteller Jim Ribby; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Laura Johnson and Civil War Poet and Storyteller Jim Ribby; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Rudy and Patti Rudolph at the Hessler Log Home; Lighthouse Park, Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Rudy and Patti Rudolph at the Hessler Log Home; Lighthouse Park, Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Ann Swaney and Judy Weaver; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Ann Swaney and Judy Weaver; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Rudy Rudolph gives a tour of the Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Rudy Rudolph gives a tour of the Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Tom Dalluge and Marty Klein; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Tom Dalluge and Marty Klein; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Helen Herzberg’s musical group; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Helen Herzberg’s musical group; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Onlookers watch a blacksmith demonstration by Brendan Keenan; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Onlookers watch a blacksmith demonstration by Brendan Keenan; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Anita Klein tending the garden at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Anita Klein tending the garden at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
A Texas family stopped by on their cross country summer tour ; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
A Texas family stopped by on their cross country trip; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
New music this year; a flute (or recorder?) at Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
New music this year; a flute (or recorder?) at Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo
Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Phyllis Cooley Photo

And here are a couple of photos from Anita Klein…

Tom Dalluge and Phyllis Cooley; Log Cabin Day 2023; Lighthouse Park | Anita Klein Photo
Tom Dalluge and Phyllis Cooley; Log Cabin Day 2023; Lighthouse Park | Anita Klein Photo
Log Cabin Day 2023; Lighthouse Park | Anita Klein Photo
Log Cabin Day 2023; Lighthouse Park | Anita Klein Photo

A while back, I mentioned that the Cole family donated funds to build a pavilion at the Dougherty House, in honor of Bill Cole, who passed away in 2020. That pavilion was dedicated on Log Cabin Day this year. Here are a couple of photos from my sis-in-law, Laura Johnson.

Chris Rieser at the dedication of the Cole Pavilion at the historic Dougherty House in Old Mission, Michigan; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Laura Johnson Photo
Chris Rieser at the dedication of the Cole Pavilion at the historic Dougherty House in Old Mission, Michigan; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Laura Johnson Photo
Chris Rieser and Rob Manigold; dedication of the Cole Pavilion at the historic Dougherty House in Old Mission, Michigan; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Laura Johnson Photo
Chris Rieser and Rob Manigold; dedication of the Cole Pavilion at the historic Dougherty House in Old Mission, Michigan; Log Cabin Day 2023 | Laura Johnson Photo

Also Read…

SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.

Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette

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