The Ottawa Valley Historical Society’s historic log home is in urgent need of repair. We had believed a plan was in place to complete the necessary work, but the commitment to donate the cost of labour ultimately fell through, leaving the repairs outstanding.
The historic log home forms part of the museum’s outdoor heritage village. Built by a local family in 1880, the home was donated to the Ottawa Valley Historical Society in 1965. That year, it was carefully deconstructed and moved 17 miles to its current location at the museum, where it was reconstructed and restored.
Over the years, general wear and exposure to the elements have caused the cedar shingles to age and deteriorate. In 2024, the museum began to notice evidence of water entering the home. The roof’s condition worsened, with several wind storms causing additional damage and dislodging shingles. The home has been covered with a tarp since fall 2024 to help protect it from further water damage, but the tarps have had to be replaced twice after being damaged by the weather.
The museum has already taken significant steps toward addressing the repairs. In 2025, the museum and community partners held several fundraising initiatives, including a volunteer-organized Music Night and a volunteer-led vendor market held at the museum, with all proceeds directed toward the roof repairs. The funds raised were used to purchase the cedar shingles after a company offered to install them at no cost. However, that company is no longer able to undertake the work.
The project will involve removing the existing damaged shingles and installing the new cedar shingles already purchased. Funding will allow the museum to hire a qualified contractor to complete the work and provide the building with a durable, long-term roof.
Completing the project will protect the historic log home from further weather damage and allow it to continue serving the museum and community for many years to come.
The historic log home provides a direct, hands-on connection to the history of the Upper Ottawa Valley. It gives visitors an opportunity to enter a historic home and experience the spaces where people lived and worked.
The home is an important part of the museum’s educational programming. Students across Renfrew County visit the building to learn about early settlement, domestic life, and the experiences of people who lived in the Ottawa Valley. Families and visitors from the local area, across Canada, and around the world also tour the home. Members of the Kosroskie/Chusrokie family continue to visit and connect with the history of their family and the building.
The historic log home also provides a space for community programming and demonstrations. During annual events such as the museum’s Strawberry Festival, historical interpreters work inside the home, demonstrating activities such as spinning, weaving, and tatting. These activities help visitors engage with local history through observation and participation.
Protecting the historic log home means maintaining an accessible place where people can learn, gather, and connect with the history of the Ottawa Valley. It also protects the community’s investment in a building that has been part of the museum for more than 60 years. Completing the roof repairs will help ensure that the historic log home can continue to serve local schools, families, visitors, and community members for many years to come.
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Funding would help preserve this piece of local history and protect the building for future generations.
My husband is a descendent of the Chusroskie family. The log house needs repair. Please help to fix the roof.
the log house is an important part of the visitors experience