Refuge History

Moose Creek Sauna and Outhouse

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

Originally, a cabin, sauna, and outhouse were located near Moose Creek (known then as Bear Creek), along the north shore of Tustumena Lake. All that remains today are the sauna and outhouse. John Cannon, an early trapper, built the sauna, and may have also built the outhouse. Charles "Windy" Wagner was the first known trapper to live here. After Windy, several other trappers occupied the cabin.

Much of what we know today about the area comes from the diary of an early resident of Tustumena Lake, Andrew Berg.  Andrew was a Finnish immigrant who trapped and guided from the late 1800's to his death in 1939. Andrew's diary mentions "Windy" as the owner of the cabin from 1921 through 1928, that John Canon and Pete Kalning were the cabin residents in 1933, and that he saw John Cannon hauling logs to build the sauna in March 1934.  The following excerpts are from his diary:

Wednesday Dec 7th 1921 Started in good time this morning walked down to Bear Creek tok fifteen of the traps at Wagners house and set them for mink up Bear Creek had tea at Wagners.

Saturday 28  (October 1933) My yeast failed again yeast cakes no good Emil and John Wik left this morning for Hugos after they was gone I got my little motor ran down to Bear Creek got a package of yeast and started all over again but it apear that it was unnecesary as my yeast from this morning are going strong I just did not give it time to go at Bear Creek Pete Kalning & John Canon have buildt a dory & dug a garden patch

Friday 30  (March 1934) After I had breckfast I lay reading John Canon came up from Bear Creek I went along with him to help him get som pipe got three joints barowed my bobsleds to haul in som logs for building a bath house been fixing som bedding not feeling so good had som dizzy spell

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION: The Moose Creek sauna is a one-story log building consisting of a single rectangular room.  The cabin is located within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the shore of Tustumena Lake.  The Moose Creek sauna condition is classified as standing "good" with very little alteration since its construction.

The Moose Creek sauna is built of spruce logs cut in the area by ax and crosscut saw.  The cabin is located approximately 200 feet from Tustumena Lake and approximately 150 feet from Moose Creek.  The foundation of the cabin consists of sill logs placed directly on the ground, without a prepared foundation.  This single room cabin is 8 feet wide by 10 feet long.  The one sided spruce logs have been peeled of all bark.  The logs average 7 ½ inches at the butt end and 6 inches at the tip.  The cabin is chinked with native moss and oakum.  The logs are interlocked with a full dovetail notch and cupped lengthwise on the bottoms to provide a tight fit over the logs below.  The facade and west elevations have 14 courses of logs and the north and south elevation have 13 courses of logs, all set horizontally. 

Last updated: September 11, 2008