Termite injury to power demolition of historic log cabin in Hamilton

A historic log home that Hamilton officials hoped could be restored to serve as a residence has to be demolished due to termite damage.

The city asked people earlier this year to submit proposals to renovate the hut, which is believed to date from the 19th century. But when three city employees took a potential developer to visit it, 223 and 225 S. C St., in the historic Rossville neighborhood.

The city’s chief construction inspector, Ken Rivera, noticed the termite damage and told his colleagues that the building must be demolished because it could collapse.

Until last year, the log cabin was in the hands of Butler County Land Bank, which takes over properties that are no longer in use or are closed off. The land bank, along with others, transferred the property to Hamilton in 2020.

Tom Vanderhorst, Hamilton’s executive director of outside services, said if the building is demolished, the city will keep logs that have not been destroyed so that they can be reused in some way.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO.com