Township Organizations Dedicate Newly Renovated Cranberry Lake Farmhouse

Standing side by side on the ADA-accessible ramp of Cranberry Lake Farmhouse on Friday evening, Historic District Commission Chairperson Bob Matouka and Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Dave Mackley joked about rusty scissors as raindrops sprinkled the cement beneath their feet.

Each holding a piece of a red ribbon strung between the ramp's railings, they sliced through the fabric, officially dedicating the 1840 farmhouse as a historic building.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony followed a brief dedication ceremony during which township officials, including Oakland Township Supervisor Joan Fogler, spoke about the two-year project to renovate the building.

"I want to thank the people who have been involved in this," Fogler said. "You guys have done a fantastic job out here, and we really appreciate it."

The farmhouse sits on a 16-acre historic district, which is part of , a 213-acre park owned by the township. The building will serve as a meeting place for the Historic District Commission and Oakland Township Historical Society; it will also serve as a location for township events, including the .

In addition to the restored farmhouse, the district includes a silo, caretaker house, a carriage barn replica, spring house, greenhouse, hen house, pigeon or apple house, a wild game or turkey brooder and the Flumerfelt barn, which was moved to the location in 2005. The original barn on the property burned down in 1981, though its foundation is still visible next to the silo.

For more information about the Cranberry Lake Farmhouse, check out the latest .