What's New at the West Virginia State Farm Museum

What's New at the Farm Museum

The historic log home built by Abner McCoy about 1880 was moved to the West Virginia State Farm Museum. It will join the Museum's collection of log buildings including a log church and two other log cabins (the Allen Cabin and Barker House).

The home was donated to the museum on July 11, 2002 by Steve Templeton of Gallipolis Ferry, a descendant of Abner McCoy. Descendants of Mr. McCoy had occupied the home since it was constructed until recent times. The log house, formerly located on Rocky Fork Road, was moved to the State Farm Museum July, 2002.

Each log was moved from its pinned position in the order in which it was installed and placed on a logging truck for transport to the Museum. There they were placed in temporary storage awaiting construction of a suitable foundation.

Each log has been tagged with its location, and drawings and instructions were prepared to facilitate reconstruction. Family members were interviewed to collect a history of the home for the Museum's records and interpretive notes.

The project would not have been possible at this time without the assistance of AmeriCorps volunteers. AmeriCorps personnel have been living at the Farm Museum during their work assignment to Mason County. Disassembling the log house had been their project for two weeks. Their members have been featured in the Point Pleasant Register.

AmeriCorps is a national service program that allows people of all ages and backgrounds to earn help paying for education in exchange for a year of service. During his State of the Union address, President Bush called upon all Americans to dedicate at least two years, the equivalent of 4,000 hours, over the course of their lives in service to others. AmeriCorps offers Americans an exciting and fast-paced way to serve others and their country.

AmeriCorps Picture

Tired but happy AmeriCorps Volunteers pose on the front porch of Abner McCoy log house. Back row: Brad Wilks; second row left to right: Chris Quaka, Emily Seffel, Sarah Jones, Aja Smith, Sachin Pai, Toni Olloway, Adrienne Yoder; first row Kelly Baston, and Andi Dining.