City to move Cook Cabin to Man House Museum property

Mansfield Parks and Recreation was tasked with relocating a historic log cabin that currently sits on Cook family property at 1025 E. Broad St. to the Man House property, 604 W. Broad St., as part of the larger museum and education space. Once there, it will be used primarily as a demonstration cabin, with a specific focus on food preparation methods of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Given the deterioration and age of the cabin, moving the structure intact was not a viable option. Staff enlisted the services of Architexas, a design firm that specializes in the construction and preservation of historical structures, to complete a Historical Structures Report on the cabin that assessed its current condition and recommended the best steps to move forward with relocation. Through this process, it was determined that the best way to move the cabin while preserving the historic structure was a log-by-log deconstruction and subsequent reconstruction in the new location. Park planners are working with Historical Services, Museum Services and the design consultants to execute the plan in the coming months.

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