The Johlin Cabin
Pearson Metropark is one of the last remaining pieces of the Great Black Swamp, which once blanketed much of the region.The Johlin Cabin is a log home built in the swamp in 1867. Originally located about 1.5 miles from here on Corduroy Road between Coy and Lallendorf roads, the 20-by-26-foot home remained in the Johlin family until Frederick Carl Johlin, Sr., donated the structure to Metroparks in 2006. It was moved here to demonstrate what life was like in the notorious swamp.Log homes were built as permanent structures using hewed logs, a shingle roof, brick chimney, glass windows and a cellar. The Johlin's home not only has all of these characteristics, but also has the mark of their German homeland, such as horizontal clapboarding on the framed gables, a central chimney for a stove, an off-center front door, room partitions and a shingled roof.
Marker can be reached from Pearson Park Drive east of Lallendorf Road, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
