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For nearly seventy years, this South Jersey
landmark was a prominent gateway to Medford Lakes, a unique pinelands
community of log cabins situated among serene cedar lakes. The
Log Cabin Lodge, renamed The Settler's Inn in 1976, was modeled
after a large log cabin with impressive stone fireplaces in Yellowstone
Park. The Lodge was considered to be one of the largest full-log
constructed buildings in the United States. Inside, The Settler's
Inn had an open atrium design which displayed two magnificent
stone fireplaces that were constructed of several hundred tons
of stone and towered to a height of seventy-five feet. The grand
structure was a constant reminder of our American heritage, our
link to our environment and our rustic pioneer roots.
The devastating fire which claimed the historic
building on January 10, 1998, has had a dramatic impact on the
residents of the immediate area and surrounding communities.
It was almost as if the structure had a spirit of its own which
had silently woven itself into the fabric of people's lives.
To many who mourned its loss, it was like losing a friend. Others
just wished they had appreciated it more when it was here. To
Sandy, it was a reminder to savor the moment and to try harder
to appreciate the little things in life we all so often take
for granted.
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Hundreds of couples who held their wedding receptions
at The Inn, find it sad that the physical presence of that special
place is now gone. The special occasions celebrated, the food
and drink savored, the relationships cultivated and functions
attended are all memories now. The Settler's Inn is no more,
but will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of all the
people who were touched by its presence.
Sandy Sandy has preserved this great memory
through her painting, Settler's Log Cabin Lodge. "I used
artistic license and painted this portrait the way I think people
would like to remember this impressive icon. It's a springtime
scene, signifying the renewal and resurrection of a structure
that was much more than just a building. I feel people deserve
more than a memory. I hope they can find joy in the ownership
and appreciation of one of my limited edition prints. I know
it can never fill he void, however I've tried to produce a piece
befitting its grandeur.
This Image was Chosen
For a Special Calendar Card Award at
Burlington County Cultural and Heritage Department's
23rd Annual Juried Art Show |
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