Roof of historic cabin near Scarborough bluffs needs repair

Holes in the roof of the oldest building in Scarborough could do to it what 225 years of weather couldn’t.

The story of the Osterhout log cabin is that it was built in 1795 by Augustus Jones, who was commissioned to survey the original Scarborough township and lay out concession roads and plots of land.

Research reveals that Jones and his men in fact lived in tents, but there is no dispute that it was constructed shortly before the land on which it is located was granted to William Osterhout in 1805.

It has survived along the Scarborough bluffs ever since, occupying land that is now part of the Guild Park, home to the now-closed and crumbling Guild Inn. The cabin has weathered more than 200 years of wind, rain and snow on the Lake Ontario shoreline, but that could change if its roof isn’t replaced soon.

Dick Winters sent us a note saying he was walking in the park with his wife. They couldn’t help but notice the holes developing in the cabin’s roof, which is covered by cedar shingles.

“We were very shocked to see this piece of history in this state of decay,” said Winters, who attached a photo of holes in the roof to his email.

We went there and found the doors boarded up and the windows covered with plexiglass.

Several holes are starting to form in the roof. They will only get bigger and let in rain, not to mention squirrels, raccoons and other pests.

After nursing it along for all these years, it would be a shame to allow it to crumble, like the old inn on the same grounds. Status: We’ve asked Nancy Lowes, who’s in charge of Scarborough parks, if there’s a plan to re-shingle the roof, or at least patch it up until it is replaced. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? To contact us, go to thestar.com/yourtoronto/the_fixer or call us at 416-8694823 email jlakey@thestar.ca . To read our blog, go to thestar.com/news/ the_fixer . Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.