Log Home Living, July 1996
"Cabin Fever"

In the rolling hills, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Marshall and Peggy Hahn have created a rather bucolic existence on their large farm. Sheep, cattle and horses graze over the green hills, grandchildren fish in the pond. From the top of the tallest hill on the property, the Hahns can overlook the peaceful scene from their farmhouse. But the two newly built structures in which they take some of their greatest pride, are a log guesthouse next to the farmhouse and a log fishing cabin located across a hill and beyond a pond. "There was an old log cabin on the property when we bought the place," Peggy Hahn explains. "It was in really bad shape and we wanted to restore it. However, we were told it was just too far gone to be able to bring back. But we still wanted log, so we set about finding a new log structure that would look old that would fit in with the farm." They also wanted log houses because Marshall has an extensive collection of American folk art, some of which would be displayed in the guesthouse. What better way to enjoy it than within the walls of what has become identified as the uniquely American folk structure, the log home? 

Once they decided on building new log houses, Marshall undertook finding just the right company to fit both his and Peggy's aesthetic and technical criteria. As past president of Virginia Polytechnical Institute and past president and retired CEO of Georgia Pacific, Marshall was used to making decisions and knew exactly what he wanted, and how to find it. After investigating the pluses and minuses of many log home companies, the Hahns chose Hearthstone, Inc. of Dandridge, Tennessee, and decided to build two cabins. Aside from the attractiveness of the Hearthstone log building he had seen, Marshall was impressed with the engineering of the Hearthstone product, especially the company's heating and cooling systems and duct work. Neither of the log houses on the Hahn property is large. It was more important to the Hahns to build cabins that would fit the landscape of the property and fulfill the functions they would need to serve rather than to build houses that would be an inappropriate size. 

For their guest cottage, they modified a Hearthstone Macon model, with just over 1,300 square feet of living space. The fishing cabin, a Hearthstone Aspen model, had 631 square feet of living space. Each is made of a mixture of eastern white pine and western hemlock. Both of the cabins have solid stone foundations with copper termite shields and copper rain gutters. The floors in each are oak with walnut pegs. Despite their small size, both houses were planned and built with precision and each is the perfect size for its function. With a large circle of friends and relatives, Marshall and Peggy thought that visitors would enjoy a log cabin as independent guest quarters. Peggy reports that all of their visitors have been delighted with their stay there.

Downstairs, there is a large living room with a stone fireplace and a dramatic cathedral ceiling. A full, eat-in kitchen and large bathroom complete the first floor, Upstairs, the bedroom overlooks the living room. It is a spacious area that was designed specifically with comfort and coziness in mind. Nooks make it inviting to curl up with a book. There is also a large upstairs bathroom. Peggy has opted to decorate in warm colors and antique pine pieces from around the world. Upholstered pieces, however, are new. Peggy bought them in northern North Carolina, where high quality and reasonable prices abound in many local furniture showrooms.

Marshall's passion for American folk art can be seen throughout the guesthouse. Among the most dramatic of his collected pieces are the portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, painted by the contemporary Georgia artist, Frank Pickle.

Being inside the fishing cabin is like being in a world far away. This little building is tucked in the side of a hill, directly in front of a pond. Even though the cabin is actually a small space, the cathedral ceiling makes it feel roomy and open. With two upholstered chairs facing a fireplace, this is the perfect spot to rest up after a long day spent with rod and reel, and spin tales about the one that got away.