The Yeomalt cabin will be restored with logs from Island Ctr.

The ground shook, sunlight broke through the clouds, and cheers echoed through the Island Center forest last Saturday, as the first fir trees that will be used for restoration of the Yeomalt Park log cabin thundered to earth.

Under the guidance of historic logger, ship caulker and master woodsman Dave Ullin, the trees were harvested using only hand tools – the same way the cabin’s original logs were felled.

Learning to use the falling saw and axe and carefully dropping the first trees were island Girl and Boy Scouts Shannon Buxton, Brandon Connor, Wes Trimble and Matt Croxford; Mayor Darlene Kordonow; Reid Hansen, the eldest Scout alumni present; and others. Ullin allowed all to join him in pulling on the saw.

After several trees plummeted into the salal, Ullin gave the sawyers high marks.

“Everyone did great!” Ullin said. “I’d have to say that the mayor was the most in tune with the saw! She really had a feel for it!”

Ullin and Olaf Ribeiro, the island’s renowned tree pathologist, expressed delight at the tall, straight logs with little taper.

Ribeiro was even more excited after the first tree fell. He rushed to count its rings.

“Guess how old it is?” Olaf queried. “Sixty-nine years old! Look how tight the rings are! There’s been a drought here the last 12 years. These logs are perfect!”

Tree harvesting was preceded by a short ceremony, a chanted blessing and prayer by Rev. Senji Kanaeda and Rev. Gilberto Perez of neighboring Nipponzan Myohoji temple. Special thanks were given to the donor of the trees, Mrs. Rose Christie, with inspiring words by the mayor and the singing of “The Little Log Cabin in the Yeomalt Forest.”

Then Ullin announced, “It’s time to work up a sweat!” to which volunteer Richard Labotz rejoined, “The team that sweats together, sticks together!”

The effort to restore the Depression-era log cabin at Camp Yeomalt is off and running. Though planning its preservation has been going on for several months, the tree falling was like a groundbreaking ceremony.

Because of the cabin’s historical connection with youth groups and because this project is for future generations, young people were asked to fall the first trees.

The weather was overcast most of the day and kept workers from overheating. Eight trees were dropped before rain and gusty wind halted the exercise.

Professional logger Bob Cederwall and other specialists will complete the tree falling, size the logs, haul them from the forest and transport them to Yeomalt Park, where a facility will be made to protect the logs and volunteers who peel the bark.

The logs will be peeled, treated with non-toxic salts to deter pests and mildew, and left to dry for several months before they are used to replace damaged logs in the cabin walls.

In recent weeks, park directors have given the project their blessings promising “all we can do to help,” and the Camp Yeomalt cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.

The Bainbridge Island Park Foundation began the fund-raising with a grant to the project and became a partner, allowing donations from others to be tax deductible.

Park directors profess not enough capital funds to support the whole project, which will need island-wide support. Planners hope $100,000 can be raised and pledged before May 1.

If so, the project has an opportunity for a one-third match from the state, which could put the funding drive over the now anticipated top of $130,000.

The largest expenses will be for cedar shakes and for professional services needed to lift the cabin and put the new logs in place. The cabin will receive a new roof, foundation, floor, stage, mantelpiece, windows and trim.

Team Yeomalt, in cooperation with BIP&RD and Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, hopes to offer classes in such things as stone work and rustic furniture making.

They’ve already had a forest classroom with students learning all about trees, loggers’ tools, careful falling and sweat.

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Cabin fever

Volunteers and financial support are needed to help restore the historic cabin at Camp Yeomalt. Team Yeomalt still needs: Loan of draw knives and bark peeling spuds; volunteers who’d like to peel a log or two; cedar logs from which 30-inch-long blocks without knots can be cut; fun fund-raising ideas. Donations can be sent to “Yeomalt Cabin Fund,” BIPF, PO Box 10010, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

For information, tours, slide shows, speakers, volunteering, meeting notices, to get on email lists, to loan tools, to share fund-raising ideas, call 842-4164, 842-9861 or 842-6087.