The Pioneer Gun Club holds a rich history, deeply intertwined with the legacy of its cabin at Sandy Ridge. About a decade ago, Ed Batten, a keen investigator, collaborated with the then-president of the Pioneer organization to delve into the specifics of this iconic structure. Their exploration, likely around February 25, 2013, aimed to uncover the original dimensions and understand the evolution of the Pioneer Cabin. Batten’s findings, shared on February 27, 2013, shed light on the cabin’s layout and raised intriguing questions about its expansion.
Batten’s analysis began with the foundations of the original cabin, specifically the kitchen shed. Measurements revealed the outer dimensions to be 8’8” by 25’6”. For simplicity, these were rounded to 9’ by 26’, approximating the kitchen area to 234 square feet. Based on visual estimations from photographs, Batten presumed the back shed was roughly half the width of the main cabin. Extrapolating these dimensions, the main cabin was estimated at around 468 square feet. Considering a second floor, the total area of the original Pioneer Cabin, encompassing the kitchen and both floors, was approximated to be 1170 square feet.
Further investigation was proposed to meticulously measure all the foundations, or “piers,” to ascertain their precise number, dimensions, and spacing. This detailed approach underscored the importance of accuracy in historical analysis, acknowledging that “the devil is always in the details.”
Intriguingly, Batten also considered the cabin’s capacity. Observing a photograph of a 1947 Hunting Party at the Pioneer Cabin, he counted 26 individuals. Relating this to the estimated main cabin square footage (excluding the kitchen shed), he calculated approximately 45 square feet per hunter. This offers a glimpse into the cabin’s functionality during its early years as a hub for the Pioneer gun club’s activities.
The investigation extended to the later additions to the Pioneer Cabin. Examining photographs showing wings added to the sides, Batten noted similarities in roof pitch and siding style and age to the original structure. This observation led to a conjecture: could the Pioneer Gun Club have acquired the “Pickers House,” bisected it, relocated the halves from north of Hilly’s house, and attached them to the main cabin to create these wings? This theory aligned with anecdotal accounts from his father about purchasing a “garage” type building for additions.
It’s crucial to note that Batten emphasized the conjectural nature of his analysis. His conclusions were based on measurements, visual assessments from photographs, and approximate dimensions from surveyor drawings. Absolute accuracy was not claimed, but rather a reasoned estimation based on available evidence.
Batten refined his dimensional estimations. He approximated the main Pioneer Cabin building (excluding the kitchen shed) to be roughly 18’ by 26’. Visually assessing the photographs again, he estimated the width of the two wing additions to be similar to the main building’s width, around 18’. While he initially thought the length of each addition might be the same as the main cabin (26’), he considered it more likely to be slightly shorter.
Comparing these estimations with surveyor drawings, the “Joe Johnson house” was listed at approximately 18’ by 32’, and the “Pickers House” at a significantly larger 22’ by 125’. This discrepancy raised a “rub” – the 125’ length of the “Pickers House” seemed disproportionately long for a picker’s dwelling, especially compared to other structures in the area.
This dimensional puzzle led Batten to revise his initial hypothesis. He shifted from believing the additions came from the “Pickers House” to considering the “Joe Johnson house” as the more probable source. The 18’ width of the “Joe Johnson house” aligned more closely with his estimated width of the main Pioneer Cabin. Furthermore, halving the 32’ length of the “Joe Johnson house” would yield 16’ sections for the wings. While slightly shorter than his visual estimate, the surveyor’s acknowledgment of approximate measurements provided some reassurance.
Ultimately, while acknowledging the guesswork involved, Batten leaned towards estimating each wing addition to be approximately 18’ by 22’ or perhaps 18’ by 24’, tentatively favoring the 18’ by 24’ dimension. This detailed investigation, while not definitive, provides a valuable framework for understanding the historical dimensions and potential structural evolution of the Pioneer Gun Club Cabin, offering intriguing insights into its past.
