Log Cabin Days just around the corner

Sep. 3—PLYMOUTH — The Ashtabula County Historical Society will host this year's Log Cabin Days from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Blakeslee Log Cabin.

Just off Route 11 on Seven Hills Road, the celebrations will include food, presentations and exhibits related to the county's history. Parking will be available in a field to the right of where Log Cabin Days' events take place.

ACHS President Gregory Kocjancic said he loves seeing families take their children through Log Cabin Days and learning the county's history.

"I see so many families with children going, 'This is where we grew up. This is what happened back then.' They're giving their children history," he said.

The event fundraises for the ACHS, and most of that money comes from selling food, said John Wright, an ACHS trustee in charge of the cooking and food at Log Cabin Days.

"The food that we sell is a big part of how we fundraise to pay the property taxes and just for all the upkeep for the property there," he said.

Wright said he became involved with the historical society because of his interest in maintaining historical properties, such as Blakeslee.

"I was really interested in helping and keeping it maintained. I had no idea what it takes to upkeep the properties that the historical society has, but it's a big deal," he said.

Alongside cooking, Wright will also lead nature walks around the cabin, teaching attendees about edible plants. He brings this knowledge from his involvement with Red Beet Row, an education farm based out of Jefferson. Wright said he got into educational farming after he left his childhood home in Jefferson for college.

"As I moved away from here and went into college and other places, I realized that my experience in this rural, sort of pastoral, agricultural landscape was really cool, so I just got into it further," he said.

Log Cabin Days were not celebrated from 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kocjancic said the historical society is still trying to come back from the pandemic.

"We were going to get back in the schools in 2020, because we had our first school set up to go in, and then COVID hit. So, we're trying to get in the swing of things after COVID." he said.

Kocjancic said he hopes nice weather will accompany this year's festivities.

"I'd like to see nice weather and see everybody enjoy it, visiting the property and learning a little history, because Ashtabula County has a lot of rich history," he said.