I found this photo on a greeting card at an old-fashioned hardware store in rural Washington. On the front it says, "Two natives of Washington, a bear den and dwelling in a Washington Saw Log." You can see the bear inside its den on the left side of the photo. After a bit of research, I learned that the photo was once on a postcard, with the following description on the back: "This log was cut four miles from Aberdene from a spruce log 40 feet from the Butt which was 13 feet in diameter at one end and eight feet at the other. It is 40 feet long, 9 feet in diameter at one end of eight feet at the other, cut to show at the St. Louis Fair, and is now in Belle Isle Park at Detroit, Mich. There are chairs, settee and table cut inside of the log. When in St. Louis it housed two bears and a large cougar."
Do you know anything about this saw log? Maybe if you are old enough you once saw it. It's not at Belle Isle Park in Detroit anymore. If it is still around I would like to know so I can visit it someday. It reminds me of the One-Log House in the California Redwoods. That one is a little smaller, cost a dollar to go inside, and never housed any bears.
3 comments:
Hi, Chuck! I did a little sleuthing around on the 'net, and did not find any reference to this log being in Belle Isle Park. But I expect you can scare up some information if you contact the Friends of Belle Isle:
http://www.fobi.org/
Hope this helps.
While I'm at it, thanks for all you do on RV Travel. I'm still a wannabe, and I learn so much from all that everyone contributes there.
Jaycee
Hi, Chuck! I have more time to research your question, and came up with nothing conclusive. I am assuming that the reference is to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. I found a site that describes Washington’s contribution as a structure built out of Washington lumber, but nothing about a saw log:
http://www.fullbooks.com/Final-Report-of-the-Louisiana-Purchase10.html
Then I found a page that states that the conservatory on Belle Island Park, Detroit, was built from lumber salvaged from the St. Louis World’s Fair. I wonder if the log is in that building:
http://www.lalh.org/preservation/casebelle.html
As a consolation prize, I found a page that has more information about your post card, with Aberdeen spelled correctly. You can send this post card as an e-card:
http://www.cardcow.com/39460/a-real-log-cabin-saw-log-transportation-trains-railroad/
Even with the extra information, I could not find anything else about the log with either Google or Ixquick. Perhaps the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce or the Aberdeen Museum of History could help you. Good luck!
Jaycee
Thanks to both of you for the additional info. I hope someone else can find a little more information. This exhibit fascinates me. -- Chuck
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