Idaho State Forester's Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Idaho State Forester's Building
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The Idaho State Forester's Building in 2019
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 Location in Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Location | 801 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, Idaho |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1940 |
| Built by | John Heillila; Gust Lapinoja |
| Architect | Hulbe, Hans C. |
| Architectural style | Log cabin |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001591 |
| Added to NRHP | January 16, 1997 |
The Idaho State Forester's Building, also known as The Cabin, is a special log cabin in Boise, Idaho. It was designed by Hans C. Hulbe from the Boise Payette Lumber Company. Skilled builders John Heillila and Gust Lapinoja constructed it in 1940.
The cabin is made from peeled Engelmann spruce logs. These logs have special "dovetail" notches that fit together tightly. Gaps between the logs were filled with oakum, a kind of rope fiber. Inside, the office walls are paneled with yellow pine, white pine, and western red cedar. All the wood came from Idaho forests and was given by lumber companies. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 because of its history and unique design.
Contents
The Cabin's Story
Creating the State Forester Job
Back in 1907, lawmakers in Idaho started thinking about having a "state forester." This person would be in charge of keeping Idaho's forests safe and making sure rules were followed. They thought about it again in 1921 and 1924. Finally, in 1925, the state government approved a law to create this important job.
Ben E. Bush became Idaho's very first state forester. He worked in this role until 1933. His job was to protect the state's valuable forests.
Finding a Home for the Forester
The main office for the state forester was first set up in Coeur d'Alene. But in 1935, a second office opened in the Capitol Building in Boise. This Boise office was only open when the state lawmakers were not meeting.
When Franklin Girard became the state forester, his Boise office had to move eight times in just three years! Because of all these moves, Girard decided it was time for a permanent home. So, in 1940, he had the Idaho State Forester's Building built. This building is the log cabin we know today as The Cabin.
Building The Cabin
Building The Cabin was a big project. It needed 44 logs, each about 55 feet long and one foot thick. After the logs were cut and put in place, the cabin walls were allowed to "cure." This means they were given time to dry and settle to stop them from warping or twisting later.
Most of the building materials were donated, meaning they were given for free. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided most of the workers. The CCC was a program that helped young men find jobs during the Great Depression. They did a lot of work on public lands.
Who Used The Cabin?
The state forester's office moved into The Cabin in 1940. Later, this office became the State Forestry Department. The building also provided office space for the Soil Conservation Corps until 1990. This group worked on protecting soil and natural resources.
In 1990, the City of Boise took over the building. A few years later, in 1995, a group called the Log Cabin Literacy Center started using the building for meetings. This group later became known simply as The Cabin, just like the building itself. They still use it today.
Future of The Cabin
Library Expansion Plans
In 1973, the main Boise Public Library moved into a building next to The Cabin. In 2018, the library planned to expand. This expansion meant they needed more space, and The Cabin was in the way.
The plan was either to tear down The Cabin or move it to a new spot. In November 2018, the Boise city council voted to move The Cabin. They decided to move it to Julia Davis Park, a large park in Boise. This way, the library could expand, and The Cabin, a historic building, could be saved.
