Hamilton’s early-1800s log cabin, other attractions reopening to the public

To keep physical distancing because of the coronavirus, entry will be limited to two people at a time.

The cabin has been at that location, inside the spot where Fort Hamilton stood from its completion in 1791 to perhaps 1796. The fort served as a supply depot for battles against American Indian tribes.

“That cabin was found underneath a multitude of coverings on a house on Park Avenue back in the early 1960s,” said Armand Bloch of Historic Hamilton Inc. “It was on the south side of Park, between C and D streets, and as they were tearing siding and things off, what did they see? Logs.

“They started peeling it back, and sure enough, there was a complete log cabin under there that apparently nobody was aware was there. The home was built in 1802 — they had records going back that far.”

The fort served the campaigns of generals Arthur St. Clair and “Mad” Anthony Wayne during the Northwest Indian War. The fort was named for Alexander Hamilton, who at the time was President George Washington’s treasury secretary. It is the fort’s commemoration of Sept. 30, 1971 that is generally considered its completion date, which the city of Hamilton takes as its founding date, an allowance made to cities whose founding originated with forts.

“This cabin was one of probably many,” Bloch said. Several existing buildings now, like the log cabin, likely still contain such buildings inside them, he and others believe.

“Fortunately, the cabin where it sits now on the river was rescued in the early ’60s. Fifty-seven people owned that property from 1802 to the 1960s.”

The Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers monument reopened Thursday, for its regular hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information, go to Historic Hamilton Inc.'s website .

Other attractions and outdoor activities that have reopened or have become available after coronavirus delays: