Our cabin never had a fancy name. Because it was constructed of logs during the 19th century, we accordingly referred to it as the "log house."

I recall the structure being a fun place to explore when I was growing up in the 1980s and '90s. But I was always curious why it was situated where it was. You see, the log house wasn't a free-standing structure on my parent's property. It was tucked inside a long wooden shed. From the outside, you wouldn't even know it was there.

The log house was used as a workshop by the previous tenants but it mostly sat empty, without purpose, during our time there. It was surrounded by storage items within the shed. Until the time came for the shed to be demolished.

Instead of destroying the log house along with the shed, my dad labeled each of the logs and took them down one by one. We weren't sure what we would do with the logs, but burning them along with the rest of the shed didn't seem right. Eventually a concrete slab was poured, and Dad and I (mostly Dad) rebuilt the structure. During the rebuilding process, we learned that the log house was the original house on our property. When the current house was built in the early 1900s, the log house was moved from its original location, about a quarter mile to the west, and placed near the new house. I guess we weren't the first people to resurrect the log house.

The log house came to hold all of our mounts, antlers, photographs of success in the field, and other outdoor adventure treasures. It became a fun place for gatherings in three of the four seasons. Since the log house was reconstructed in 2001, opening day of the Wisconsin firearms deer hunting season has become one of those gathering times. After a long day of hunting, family and friends gather around some warm food, cold drinks and a fire in the old stove. Stories of big deer, little deer and no deer are told by hunters with tired eyes and wind-burned cheeks. The night never lasts too long because there are more stories to make the next morning.

Eventually, the log house will pass on to another family. Hopefully they will enjoy its unique history — many people have lived in, worked in, played in and rebuilt the log house.

MARC SCHWABENLADER, ROSEVILLE