Oregon in Ogle County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Timber House

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2024

1. Timber House Marker

Inscription. This log cabin, which dates back to the 1830's, originally stood on the Glenn Borneman farm west of Leaf River. It was initially a one-room lofted structure with hand-hewn logs that were notched at the ends for joining at the corners. The timbers were held together by hand-carved wooden pegs and were chinked with mortar filled with stones and wood chips. The house was dismantled and reconstructed at this site.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 42° 2.198′ N, 89° 19.876′ W. Marker is in Oregon, Illinois, in Ogle County. It can be reached from River Road 2 miles north of Washington Street (Illinois Route 56). The Timber House is a short hike east of the buildings on Northern Illinois University's Lorado Taft Field Campus, which sits inside Lowden State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1414 North River Road, Oregon IL 61061, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Welcome to Lowden State Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Black Hawk Statue (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lorado Taft (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Black Hawk War

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Frank O. Lowden (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Lincoln Highway - The nation's first coast-to-coast highway! (approx. 1½ miles away); Lincoln Highway (approx. 1½ miles away); Illinois Lincoln Highway (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oregon.

More about this marker. NIU's Lorado Taft campus sits on what was originally the Eagle's Nest Art Colony, overlooking the Rock River near Oregon, the county seat of Ogle County, Illinois. Founded in 1898 by Chicago attorney Walter Heckman, the art colony's original group was led by Lorado Taft, the famed sculptor, and 10 other artists who were affiliated with him. Taft is the designer of the 48-foot-tall statue of Black Hawk, the famed Sauk leader and namesake of the war fought in this section of Illinois in 1832, which overlooks the Rock River on a 77-foot-high bluff about 350 yards south of the campus. Northern Illinois University acquired the old art colony in 1951, and it used it as the site for students seeking an Outdoor Education degree, as well as a campsite and outdoor education facility for Illinois schoolchildren. In September 2024, NIU announced that it would

Timber House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2024

2. Timber House and Marker

be discontinuing programming and closing the campus permanently on December 15, 2024.

Regarding Timber House. The Leaf River is a tributary of the Rock River; the two rivers' confluence is about 5 miles north of here; a corresponding village named Leaf River is about 5 miles west of the Rock River. Although searches indicate that the Bornemans continue to live in and near Leaf River, no information about the original Glenn Borneman and his family's settlement here in Ogle County could be found.

Also see . . . The Lorado Taft Field Campus at Lowden Park. A history of the NIU outdoor education campus overlooking the Rock River. (Submitted on October 2, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. Lowden State Park Illinois, Lorado Taft NIU Field Campus

Timber House (rear side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2024

3. Timber House (rear side)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 1, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on October 2, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.