Forbes Museum
Plans Cabin Repairs
By Robin Tagliaferri
Forbes House Museum
7/12/11
The replica of the Abraham Lincoln cabin at Forbes House Museum has been a local attraction for students and families in Milton since 1924. Its building was commissioned by Mary Bowditch Forbes, granddaughter of Capt. Robert Bennet Forbes, who was an avid collector of Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln memorabilia, and a devoted friend of veterans and former slaves.

In June, the museum began plans to refurbish the cabin. Its delicate structure has become weather-beaten (New England winters are not as kind as Kentucky winters), and the clay-like substance in between the logs, called chinking, needs replacing.

From time to time, this type of structure requires rebuilding, and a team of volunteers recently began an assessment of the roof, administering some temporary repairs. Museum trustee and architect George Lovely has drafted a plan to address all the structural needs of the cabin.

“I have been researching the likely construction of the ‘original’ Lincoln cabin,” says Lovely, “and drawing together information from several 19th century sources. I am now preparing sketches of the current cabin’s walls and roof to illustrate the proposed repairs, and drafting a step-by-step plan to complete the work.”

From the time of its dedication in 1923, the cabin has had thousands of visitors, especially on Lincoln Day, when Ms. Bowditch Forbes invited folks to the property to hear speeches and see the cabin.

The museum invites residents to contribute $5 toward the refurbishment costs.

Over the summer, a team of volunteers will repair the cabin. For more information about the museum or the repairs, visit www.forbeshousemuseum.org, find the museum’s Facebook page or call (617) 696-1815.