Log Cabin Day Celebration Planned for Old Mission Peninsula

The Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society will hold its annual “Log Cabin Day” celebration on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Log Cabin Day is part of a statewide celebration of pioneer cabins. 

Locations for the celebration include Mission Point Lighthouse at the end of M37/Center Road, the Hessler Log Cabin (located next to the Lighthouse), and the Peter Dougherty Mission House and Museum and Historic Log Church, both on Mission Road in the village of Old Mission. 

As in previous years, this year’s Log Cabin Day will feature era-appropriate music and historic crafts and demonstrations such as quilting, needlework, blacksmithing and more. The Maritime Heritage Alliance usually brings out a historic boat or two, as well.

The Hessler Log Cabin will be open for tours inside, a once yearly event. Mission Point Lighthouse will also be open for tours, and revenues on that day are earmarked for the Historical Society. Except for the lighthouse tour (which is a few dollars), other activities are free of charge.

The restored Hessler cabin was originally located at Underwood Farms. In the 1990s, a group of volunteers disassembled the cabin and moved it to Lighthouse Park. Once in the park, it was reassembled and restored by volunteers who then formed the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, a 501C3 organization, to continue its maintenance.

Later, the Historical Society parented an effort for Peninsula Township to acquire the historic Peter Dougherty Mission house in the village of Old Mission, which now operates as its own 501C3 non profit organization. 

Over the past couple of years, the Historical Society sponsored a renovation of the 1939 replica of Dougherty’s historic log church, also in the village of Old Mission. The displays inside have been renewed and refreshed. The Dougherty House and the replica church, both on Mission Road, are open from 11 to 4 p.m. on Log Cabin Day. The Lighthouse and Hessler cabin are open from 10 to 4 p.m.

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