History of Ownership

The Early Years

Following is a list of previous owners of Cabin No. 25 and what we know about them dating back to 1912. (The exact dates of prior owners are unknown and will require some research; however, the succession of ownership is correct.)

John Bradford built the original cabin in 1912, consisting of a kitchen, bedroom, and loft.

Dr. Fred Bell, Captain in Army Medical Corp during World War I, added a living room and a porch that they used for sleeping. Left behind in the loft was Captain Bell’s footlocker from WWI, including his complete uniform and leather leggings.

The Martins were full-time residents of Horseshoe Bend. They added the music room (a.k.a. sunroom or alcove), copper coffee table, and the log end table and lamp. Mr. Martin was a liquor salesperson and former schoolteacher from the University of Nebraska. Many of his schoolbooks are still on the cabin’s bookshelves. Both the Martins were artistic. His wife hand-painted the front door. Her initials “MM” can be seen at the bottom of the door.

The Goodyears were the next owners. The husband was an airport worker. The wife carried an oxygen tank with her.

Paul and Carol Biller owned it next; a young couple who commuted to work. Added the oval rug and stove lamp.

Ted and Alvena Pattberg, the next owners, were neighbors of John & Alice’s first home in 1952 on Lanett Ave. in Whittier. Our family went to the Pattberg’s cabin on a snowy, cold day and afterward told them if they ever wanted to sell the cabin to come to us first.

Loevenguth Years

On June 2, 1967, John and Alice Loevenguth purchased a one-story Two-Bedroom Shingle Siding, Tin Roof, Garage, Workroom and Patio, together with Personal Property, as more fully described in the Bill of Sale. The total purchase price was $.

Chronology of Significant Improvements to Cabin

1967 summer – the first summer owning the cabin. We spent our entire two-week summer vacation scraping paint, recalking windows, painting, and replacing shingles, among myriad other projects, requiring countless trips to the local hardware store in Lake Gregory.

The following improvements are based on memory and may not be in exact chronological order.

1974 – replaced tin roof with yellow steel decking left over from one of Grandpa John’s structural engineering jobs.
Added ¾ small bathroom in MBR
Red room bedroom added adjacent to fireplace
1991 the year Grandpa John retired – Expanded living room out to what was previously outdoor accessed deck into Grandpa John’s desk and office area and the library area (Grandma Alice’s favorite place)
Hardwood rustic floor throughout main living area on ground level
Sliding door to new balcony with a panoramic view overlooking San Bernardino and the Inland Empire (on a clear day, you can see all the way to the ocean)
Lofts built out and renovated; pulldown accordion stairs to lofts installed
Wood shingles siding replaced with aluminum siding
Downstairs bedroom, closet and laundry room added accessible by inside stairs or outside door (furnished with Grandma Alice’s childhood bed, since replaced with queen mattress).

October 18, 2012, for estate planning purposes, ownership of the cabin was deeded one-third interest each to John, Jeffery, and James Loevenguth with the understanding that they would pass it on to their children, thus keeping it in the family for the next generation.

On September 11, 2016, Grandpa John passed away.

Improvements made Post Grandpa John’s Passing

2017 – Pour concrete floor in garage, previously dirt
2017 – Replaced picture window in sunroom
2019 – Replaced cabin and garage roof with fire-resistant shingles having 30-year warranty
2019 – New toilets; curtains for sliding door to deck
2022 – Replaced main plumbing line to street
2022 – Arboriculture (36 trees, pruned, dead wood cut out, limbs over cabin roof cut back)
2022 – Replaced aging washing machine that kept overflowing and flooding the laundry room