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Jones-Neely Log House
The year was 1800. Out of the wilderness
a rugged frontiersman, William Jones, sweated and
toiled to build the first log cabin in the area
now known as Franklin Park. Little could he have
imagined that his cabin would last for 200 years.
Furthermore, it would have been difficult for Mr.
Jones to believe that 200 years in the future, a
growing community would want to salvage his log
cabin which measured 14'x20'.
William Scott, a local builder, agreed to
donate the cabin to the Borough. He also agreed
to contribute $2,000.00 toward the preservation
effort. Mr. Scott was granted a use variance by
the Zoning Hearing Board for the lot on which the
cabin sits. The cabin was scheduled to be
demolished, and new townhouses were planned for
the site.
The Historical Preservation Committee
recommended to Borough Council that the cabin be
preserved. In August 2000 Council approved the
project. Most of the work was done in-house by
the Public Works Department. The first step was
to catalogue the timbers and other portions of
the cabin.
This historic log house is now completed,
and will be utilized as an educational
museum/nature center. A few antiques have been
collected and/or donated for display in the
cabin. We still need many old artifacts
(arrowheads, spear points, Indian Tools etc.) or
antiques of any type (tools, furniture, cooking
and cleaning items etc.) that you would be
willing to lend or donate for use in the log
cabin. We could also use any old pictures that
you may have of the Borough. We will make copies
of these and return the originals to you.
Anyone wishing to donate to this cause
should make their checks payable to Franklin Park
Borough and forward them to the Accounts
Receivable Office at the Municipal Building.
Hopefully, our residents will enjoy the
restored cabin for another 200 years!
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