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Volunteers needed to help restore historic homes

The Roades-Hatfield House is one of the old homes at Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village in Waynesville. The house was built between 1838 to 1890 in Salem Twp. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

Apryl Pilolli/Staff photographer The Roades-Hatfield House is one of the old homes at Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village in Waynesville. The house was built between 1838 to 1890 in Salem Twp. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

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Jerry Ball shows off an old gun in the Mills-Taylor Saddlebag House at Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village in Waynesville. The house was built between 1795 to 1800 in Milford and relocated to the village. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

Apryl Pilolli/Staff photographer Jerry Ball shows off an old gun in the Mills-Taylor Saddlebag House at Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village in Waynesville. The house was built between 1795 to 1800 in Milford and relocated to the village. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 8:41 PM Monday, March 15, 2010

MASSIE TWP. — Standing in the middle of Caesar Creek Pioneer Village, it’s easy to envision settlers toiling around the sturdy, centuries-old log cabins.

Many of the buildings were relocated from the Caesar Creek valley, before it was flooded in the 1970s to build Caesar Creek Lake. There’s a 19th century Quaker church that features two pot-belly stoves; a general store, a blacksmith’s shop and a small, one-room schoolhouse — 15 buildings in all, situated on 88 acres surrounded by woods and Caesar Creek Lake.

“It’s a wonderful place to sit and relax. Watch the wildlife,” said Karen Ball, vice president of the Caesar Creek Pioneer Village Association. “Anybody that loves history will absolutely fall in love with this place. It’s the best kept secret in Ohio.”

A closer look reveals that all of the historic structures are in varying states of disrepair, in need of new roofs, new floors and chinking to fill in gaps between the logs.

Ball said the association has made it a priority to fix up the cabins. They are seeking volunteers to help.

“We have the materials, we just need the manpower to do the work,” Ball said.

Karen and her husband Jerry Ball are “houseparents” for one of the cabins, a “saddle-bag” building so called because it is divided in two sections by a stone fireplace.

Dressed as a merchant circa 1840, Jerry Ball explained that the low ceilings reflect the people’s average height of 5-foot-6 in that era. He said the cabin was built around 1795 and was relocated from Dry Run Road. Upstairs, one side of the building is unfinished, with daylight shining through gaps in the logs and buckling floor planks.

“We’re trying to preserve all the buildings and cabins,” Jerry Ball said.

Pioneer Village, located east of Waynseville, is open to the public and hosts a variety of events during the warm months, including Civil War reenactments and music festivals. The village provides unique educational opportunities for children, said Volunteer Don Lynch.

“Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” Lynch said of the buildings. “Kids come out here, they kinda go with the flow. They learn what their forefathers did, how they lived. It’s a culture shock, but it lets them know how good it is (today).”

To help, call the Balls at (937( 269-7237 or e-mail Karen.Morphew@NCMC.com.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.