Platter/Schaefer Cabin (25-133): Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program. 2003. Platter/Schaefer Cabin (25-133): Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 501344. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. NPS Midwest Regional Office, Omaha, Nebraska / CRIS-CL Database
Inventory Unit Description: The Platter/Schaefer property is situated on a bluff over the Namekagon River and includes a log cabin, garage/guesthouse, privy and landscape features including a stone wall, flower bed and bird house. The appraiser hired by the Department of the Interior described the Platter property as being “…one of the prettiest pieces on the river with high, rolling terrain, partially in steep bank leading to the river, and partially in quite moderate elevations but not low land.” Although the exact construction date is unknown, it is assumed from real estate tax records that the cabin was built between 1927 and 1930. The cabin’s rustic style design is well executed and complements the landscape setting. The primary, dominant extant landscape features associated with the property are the two log structures, privy, and prominently delineated spatial organization, unique to seasonal recreational properties in this region. This is due to the planned positioning of a combination of wood fences and stone walls, concrete sidewalks, and vertical articulation of the structures and woodland edges. Additional extant small-scale features, typically found at these seasonal properties, include a stack of firewood, clothesline, fuel tank, bird house, water spigot, and a flag pole. Several small ornamental trees and shrubs have been planted within the fenced area. A driveway leads to the garage from the southwest corner of the property. A landscape feature often associated with seasonal properties in the St. Croix region—an unimpeded view out over the river—is diminished here due to the dense tree line along the bluff edge. The Platter/Schaefer property landscape is typical of many seasonal properties associated with the recreation and tourism context within the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The cottage, outbuildings and landscape exhibit a moderate to high degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program
- Date of Issue
- 2003-05-15
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- MWR , SACN
- Keywords
- architecture, entertainment/recreation, guesthouse, historic vernacular landscape, log cabin, platter cabin, privy, recreation and tourism, rustic style, Saint Croix River, seasonal, social history, warner cabin