All-Points Bulletin

Correction: This article has been updated to clarify an oversight I made when publishing it. The information was buried in the article, but it wasn’t clear to me and thus it didn’t come through in my post.

The Bronze plaque is deceiving. It turns out that the homestead mentioned below isn’t as old as the bronze plaque indicates. It seems that the original homestead was lost in a flood in 1810. It was rebuilt at another location. This Log Home appears to have been built by his grandson who bears the same name after returning from the Civil War.

The next article clears up the confusion, though it adds some more. At the end of the article, it mentions that the current owner was going to take it somewhere else to restore it the following year. That apparently never happened, and it currently stands behind the fire department and adjacent to City Hall.

Thus, the correct attribution appears to be Samson Babb (1-2-1-9-2-3).

Elmira Star Gazette, 1964


I’ve been alerted to the most disturbing state of the Homestead of Samson Babb (1-2-1-9-2-3). Previously, I wasn’t aware that this log home even existed. But the image above, which was taken by our Resident Babbophile, Jim, lays bare the current state of disrepair.

This plaque incorrectly lists the grandfather of the actual Samson who built the home.

It is in the very small community of Morris in Tioga County, PA. It is located behind the fire station and city hall. Apparently, it is being used by the Fire Department to store charcoal and grating for their annual chicken barbeque. I’m not sure if this is Irony or Ignorance, but we need to address this situation before it goes from bad to worse.

So, while I’m not yet sure of the price tag of this project, I must say that it needs to be chink and daubed. The door is not period, which is good, because it is partially destroyed by the fire that started inside it. The logs can be repaired and sealed to improve their appearance. The soffits clearly don’t seal which will allow small animals to seek refuge there during the cold winter months. Varmints can get in between the foundation and the lose stones underneath it.

On the positive side, it appears to have a good roof and the structure is stable. The floors were replaced in the not-too-distant past, so they are strong. Several efforts have been made over time to keep it safe. Those have extended its life greatly.

We need to restore this Homestead, just as we did Seth’s Homestead. It is yet another great treasure of the collective Babb legacy.

In that vein, I am announcing the Babb Endowment. The need will always outweigh the funds, but we don’t need to wait for something to burn like Notre-Dame before we take action!


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2 responses to “All-Points Bulletin”

    • Hi Deborah! As of yet we do not have a method to give funds to the local authorities to assist with the restoration.

      Thanks so much for your enthusiasm! I need to attempt to contact them again to see if they are willing to accept the assistance. If you haven’t heard back from me within 2 weeks, please don’t hesitate to message me again at da****@************ed.com.

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