Artisan Cabins in the Historic Area is completed.
In the Historic Area, an area to provide additional areas for demonstrations during events, donors came forward when Mark Bowe of the Barnwood Builders company and TV Series offered to film a number of episodes at Jackson’s Mill and completing three rustic-style cabins which would be open spaces to be utilized for future events and classes demonstrating and teaching heritage arts. The first Artisan Cabin completed in 2018, is located on the rise of ground beyond the McWhorter Cabin and the materials were donated by Bowe and the Builders with members of WVU and WVU Extension Leadership participating in the building and filming. The construction is wood timber framing, repurposing old barnwood (a specialty of the Barnwood Builders and where they get their name), with wood walls. The second Artisan Cabin was constructed in September of 2019 and was funded by the generosity of Bill Freyler, a 4-H Leader and longtime volunteer. The 4-H members from Ohio County, Freyler’s home county, worked with the Barnwood Builders to film the episode and complete the building. It is a log-walled construction located between the Mary Conrad and McWhorter cabins. A final Artisan Cabin was completed in September of 2020. It is located across from the Old Jackson Mill. The construction is similar to the first Artisan Cabin. All of these cabins have a porch with steps and ramps which were added later.
A footbridge to Council Circle is completed.
Traditionally, there were two primary ways for campers to make their way to Council Circle. One was a blacktop and gravel path, which transitioned to an earthen path right near the Council Circle. The more popular and well-known way to get there followed a well-trod path through the woods which started right next to the Main (Old) Pavilion and followed the ground to the Council Circle. This path, however, was not easy to follow in the dark and the ground was quite uneven. In 2018, Jackson and Helen Tyree provided a generous donation which funded the construction of a large footbridge over the uneven and sloping ground as well as path which takes visitors the rest of the way to Council Circle. Both the bridge and the path have lights which illuminate the way.