Endangered! Please be part of the effort to preserve! The historic log cabin in the Case Mountain Recreation Area owned by the Town of Manchester is being threatened with demolition. The vintage Adirondack-style cabin is unique in Manchester. It is a "contributing asset" in the Case Brothers National Historic District. We urge preservation, and we urge the Town to use the amount of money (that would have been used for demolition) to restore the cabin as a visitor attraction and a relic of Manchester’s past, like Manchester’s historic Pitkin Glass Works. As a tourist and educational site, the cabin will enhance the Case Mountain Recreation Area, and tell the story of early 20th century Manchester. We urge the CT Historic Preservation Council to oppose demolition of the cabin by the Town of Manchester. Our reasons:

1.        The Town commissioned, paid for with partial funding from the State Historic Preservation Office, and, in May 2013, received a “Conditions Assessment and Recommendations” report that said the historic building was basically stable and that its preservation would be a benefit to the town: “…it is a historically important building that is part of a vital recreational and natural asset.”  Report available online at: http://www.manchesterlandtrust.org/reprints/CaseCabinMay2013ConditionsAssessment.pdf  
2.         The cabin is an integral part of the Case Brothers National Historic District, along with carriage paths & stone walls. Instead of demolition, we urge the Town to consider alternatives, including replacing broken windows with plexiglass, so visitors can view inside the cabin. The side bridge to the cabin could be rebuilt, the gardens and water pools re-plumbed. The cabin’s interior could remain closed except for special open house events. Signage and vintage pictures could tell about Manchester’s unique history of industrialists such as the Case brothers residing near their mill employees, and opening their property to the public. 

3.        The cabin lends charm and character to our community and region. There are already several Manchester parks with all the modern amenities: Charter Oak with its pavilion and office building; Northwest Park with its buildings, and picnic and meeting site. The cabin does not need to have bathrooms, running water, heat, or air conditioning. 

As the creator of the Friends of the Log Cabin at Case Mountain, I, Mark Connors can be contacted at 513 Lydall St., Manchester, 06042; email markconnors1951@gmail.com; phone: 860-604-5722 for further information.