A cabin with a history

The Cragg Cabin story is one which the Goose Lake Prairie Partners value very much. It is the symbol of the pioneer culture of Northern Illinois.

Northern Illinois was not the first part to be settled. Plowing prairie land with wooden plows was very hard work until the invention of the iron plow. John Deere didn’t invent it until after the Cragg

Family settled in Braceville Township in 1834 and cleared their land by hand.

At the September 5 meeting of the Prairie Partners, we were honored by the presence of these Cragg descendants who have helped Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area staff and the Prairie Partners honor that legacy.

They are pleased to see the Partners have continued the Cragg legacy by rebuilding the rapidly deteriorating cabin. With the help of Todd Daggett, the new cabin will represent the original as close as we were able to make it.

We received the Cragg genealogy from Lisa Burgess, who has spent hours recording the family history, and her brother, Philip Cragg Burgess.

It was also the same time as when Cragg told us his plans for the cabin floors be made of red oak boards taken from trees grown at the original Cragg homestead.

“We owe a thank you to the many friends and businesses that supported the Goose Lake Prairie Partners in the rebuilding of this local treasure,” president Charlene McDade said. “The 1980-1981 cabin survived 40 years. With the plans that Todd Daggett presented to the park and to the Partners, we are hoping this cabin will live to see many more years of festivals and educational activities.”

At this time the cabin has a subfloor, walls and the roof is near finished. In the near future door, windows and flooring will be finished.

Visit the Prairie Partners Facebook page [Goose Lake Prairie Partners, Inc.] to follow our progress.