Where are Lincoln's Logs?

   This, being the last Sunday in June, is National
Log Cabin Day! But you probably already knew
that. Right?
   It was created by the Log Cabin Society and the
"Bad Ax Historical Society" in Michigan back in
1986.
   Now when most folks thing about log cabins
they usually think about President Abe Lincoln
who, we are told, was born in one.
   Interestingly, in 1883 they disassembled
Lincoln's family cabin and shipped it to
Chicago to be put on display for the World's
Colombian Exposition. Problem is...somebody
lost it after the Exposition closed!
   How do you lose Abe Lincoln's Cabin????
   Maybe somebody needed fire wood. Or maybe
somebody moved it to their own lot somewhere
in the hope one of their kids would grown up to
be President?
   There's a log cabin in our family history too.
   My great Uncle Charley Goyne, my Mom's
Uncle, was a gold miner in Alaska!
   Modern records of his claim indicate the
"remains of a cabin" can still be found at the
site. We're lucky enough to have a photo of
him, standing in front of that cabin!
    He mined the site for several years, also
worked on the docks, and finally settled
in the small community of Saint John's, just
outside Hazleton.
   He choose to live there.....in a small cabin!
   Surprise, surprise!
   That one wasn't log. But it was close enough
to suit him!
    I'll be thinking about Uncle Charlie on this
National Log Cabin Day.
   I'll remember how he used to tell me there was
a million dollars worth of gold in his mine...but
it would have cost two million to get it out! Of
course gold is worth a lot more today than it was
then!
   Some of me would like to go to his old claim,
rebuild the cabin and get he rest of that gold out.
   The other part of me remembers how Uncle
Charlie would always say he was "Smart enough
to know how dumb I am."
    So, knowing nothing about building log cabins
and little more about mining for gold I guess I'll
just stay put, enjoy this "unusual Holiday," and
.....maybe.....play with my grand kid's Lincoln
Logs!"
    Wait a minute! They're gone too! Replaced
by Legos! Hey! That could be a new trend.......
"Lincoln Legos!"
    Hope your home is solid, whatever it's made
from, and that all your NEWS is good!