Baker Block Museum village centerpiece

The Baker Block Museum acquired an authentic log cabin for exhibit and living history programs thanks to the generous donation of previous owner, Danny Hall of Pensacola. Hall is a descendant of several Okaloosa pioneer families and wanted to see the cabin preserved.

Myrick House Movers of Baker moved the cabin from its original site on Old River Road, just north of Shockley Springs Road to the museum grounds on August 12th, 2006. The project was made possible with funding provided by Okaloosa County and the assistances of Chelco crews and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Hall’s cousin Marinell Hutto Turner of Baker has help provide a portion of the cabin’s history. According to Turner, her father, Orbie Hutto was born in the cabin in March 1913 and her great grandfather, Will Helms, built it. Although the exact date of construction is unknown, it is believed to have been in the 1870’s and land records are still being researched to determine as many details about cabin’s origin as possible. “The house holds so much history for many north Okaloosa families including, Barrows, Helms, Cooks, Maddens, Huttos and Halls,” stated Turner.

The single pen cabin is 15 feet by 20 feet with a loft sleeping area and made of split pine logs. The cantilever style construction includes two eight-foot porches on both the front and back of the cabin. Much work has been done to restore the cabin and to add steps in the front and back of the cabin. A fireplace with cooking hearth has been added in the style that would have been in a cabin of its kind in the 1800s. It has been used in the school programs and Heritage Festivals that take place on the museum grounds. The furnishings are also representative of those used by our ancestors in that era. Come in and see the "bedroom" in the rafters.

Note the half round logs and the overlapped boards used instead of chinking.

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