Thanks to the foresight of a group of men in the early 1930s, a log cabin stands as a tribute to the early pioneers of the Montgomery area. The log cabin was built in manner of the first cabins of the early pioneers who settled in the area. The group of men we speak of were members of the Pioneer Historical Association of Montgomery, organized on August 13, 1928. Officers elected were Joseph T. Rynda, president, Joseph W. Kaisershot, vice president; William H. Becker, first vice president; Matt F. Stanek, treasurer; Frank Bentley, secretary; and Frank Busta, historian. The purpose of building the log cabin was primarily to house the relics left by early pioneers.
Some of the first proposals were to purchase three or four old cabins and reassemble them at the park. Another was to build a new cabin of new logs, and another of concrete. Not much progress was made on a final decision in the first two or three years. Officers themselves and their friends were to bring in enough logs of oak, ash, or red elm, 20 feet long, 12 inches at the butt and 12 inches at the top, to start construction.
Finally in the spring of 1931, donations of materials were gathered to start work. Wm. H. Becker donated the rock for the foundation and supervised its construction. H.E. Westerman and Joseph Janutka, lumber dealers, each donated 15 sacks of cement. Some of the log donations were from John Meyers, Frank Jonovsky, and Jos. L. Dvorak. E. P. Richter and Frank Bentley each donated a butternut log take from the E. P. Richter woods by Rice Lake.
Matt F. Stanek was to take charge of the construction and would also furnish lunch for the workers. Albert Flicek and Stanek would oversee the laying the first four logs.
Secretary Frank Bentley sent out word to about 30 men to help. Among some of the workers were John J. Pan, Sr., Matej David, Theodore Rynda, Sr., Jos. Rynda, John Bicek, Frank Bently, Julius Oren and John H. Novotny.
May 25, 1931, was the date set for the construction. The logs were trimmed, notched and the 16- by 20-foot cabin was constructed to the roof on that day, but it stood unfinished until the following year.
At the association’s January meeting, motions were made to procure trees for rafters that were to be sawed on one side, and also elm boards were to be found for the roof.
Log Cabin being constructed in Memorial Park - June 1932.
In June of 1932 work began on the roof. Anton Horazdovsky donated the rafters. Frank Filipek, who had a saw mill, donated the lumber and sawed the rafters. Six or seven men cut the rafters and boards to size. The roof was to be finished and ready for shingling after pea pack. J.A. Kasiersatt and Jacob Cheezik each donated a window, and Joseph G. Hruby donated to the lock for the door. Gravel was put down as a floor a few years later. It was common for the first pioneer cabins to have a dirt floor. A tree stump was also left in the cabin to serve as a table. The cabin finally got a wood floor in July 1986, after a lapse of 54 years. Frank Soukup, George Vlasak and George Mucha did the work. Leonard Wondra assisted in re-shingling the log cabin at this time.
In 2020, the log cabin had its shingles replaced and larger restoration project was started to ensure the log cabin would be around for another generation. Much of the work was completed by Bob Janovsky, Kaleb Benson, Richard Kukacka, Kim McCrady, Rick Krenik, Ted Wondra, Allen Reak, R & R Metals, Generation Building Center, Mark Johnson, Ben Krenik, Bill Hlavac, Mike Ruhland, Tim Ruhland, Reynold Ruhland, Elliot Ruhland, Jerome “Butch” Kroack, Roland Ceplecha, Conrad McCrady, Chris Roemhildt, Tom Washa, Roger & Mary Ann Heyda, Bob & Colleen Pavek, Larry Trinka, and Dale Ruhland.