Jennifer Iverson, great, great granddaughter of Clarence Maloney, cut the ribbon for the Maloney Cabin during the Seeley Lake Historical Society Open House Oct. 27.
While the 100-year-old cabin survived the snow during the winter of 2017, wind de-roofed the cabin and partially collapsed it. It was moved to the Seeley Lake Museum in the summer of 2018. The restoration project began in 2019 after securing the necessary funds and Missoula County permits.
The Maloney Cabin after the restoration work this summer. Originally the cabin had the kitchen and living area in the back. They switched it to put the kitchen and living area in the front to fit their needs. It still needs to be chinked, floor installed and the porch built. The Historical Society is looking for an outhouse and shed to add to what they are now calling the "Maloney campus."
The Seeley Lake Historical Society provided its members drinks and appetizers, made by Cheri Thompson, that were in keeping with a party that would have been held in the 1920s.
SEELEY LAKE – Around 30 Seeley Lake Historical Society members gathered for a 1920s-themed celebration and ribbon cutting for the Maloney Cabin. The Seeley Lake Historical Society looks forward to using the cabin to foster knowledge and a better understanding of the history in the Seeley Lake.
The 100-year old Maloney Cabin was donated to the Seeley Lake Historical Society in 2016 by Lee Dick. The cabin was originally located along Seeley Creek, east of Highway 83 in the Maloney complex. Several years ago, the cabin was moved to property on Morrell Creek Drive. In 2016 it was donated to the Historical Society.
In 2018, the two-room cabin was disassembled with each log numbered for reassembly in its original configuration. The materials were piled behind the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitor Center pending additional grant funding.
With grants from the Montana History Foundation, Seeley Lake Community Foundation and the Preserving Missoula County History Grant program, the Seeley Lake Historical Society broke ground this spring for the Maloney Cabin Reconstruction Project.
Rich Hill was the contractor and worked with a "senior" crew of volunteers including Jack Phipps, Tom Browder, Steven Thompson and Cheri Thompson.
Because of Missoula County permitting requirement, the project that was estimated to cost $15,000-$20,000 grew to $40,000. Even though the structure does not have electricity, plumbing and was only for display, the Historical Society was required to meet modern building codes and install an insulated concrete slab, rebuild the roof with trusses that met building codes and screwing the logs together every 12 inches with screws that cost $1.50 each.
Through the project the Historical Society connected with the Maloney family. Jennifer Iverson of Potomac is the great, great granddaughter of Clarence Maloney who built the cabin.
"That is a real connection because of this project – we have made new friends and we actually have someone we can talk to," said President of the Historical Society Cheri Thompson.
Iverson's father Richard Stan Gibford of Bend, Ore. and her aunt Suzanne Jennings of Boise, Idaho have been compiling family resources, knowledge and photos and sending them to the Historical Society. She said it has meant a lot to her father and aunt to see the cabin come back to life. It also has been a lot of fun for them to go through old photos.
"It's pretty cool. I knew of the Maloney cabin growing up and I kind of knew it was up on the north end of Seeley but that was all I really knew about it," said Iverson. "Now it has a tangible meaning to all of it. The project has brought a lot of stories to life for my family."
The Maloney family donated a mantle clock that used to be in the cabin when they owned it. It will be on display as well as all 1920s period furnishings. The Historical Society is still looking for a donated ice box for the cabin, but otherwise the cabin will be fully furnished.
The Historical Society received original 1920s French doors, windows that were installed in the living space and enough flooring for one room from Legendary Lodge on Salmon Lake. The Lodge was once called Mowitza and was owned by the family of the Copper King William Clark.
Because the cold weather arrived early this fall, the cabin still needs to be chinked. They will be chinking the inside this year as well as laying the floor.
Next summer, the Historical Society is looking forward to adding an outhouse and a shed to what they are calling the "Maloney Campus" on the Seeley Lake Museum property. They hope to display old tools in the shed. They will also add a porch on the front.
"It has been a fantastic project," said Historical Society board member Ron Cox who initially had the vision to move the cabin to the museum site.
Because the cost of the project has nearly doubled from their original estimates, the Historical Society is still raising funds to cover the reconstruction costs. They have applied for three more grants but they are accepting donations. Donations can be made through the GoFundMe site https://www.gofundme.com/f/historic-maloney-cabin-project or directly to the Seeley Lake Historical Society, 2920 Highway 83, Seeley lake, MT, 59868. Next summer they will be selling bricks on the walkway which they will sand blast with donor names and memorials.
If anyone has an old outhouse or shed that they would like to donate please contact the Historical Society, 677-2990 or email slhistory@blackfoot.net.
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