The Braun Log House was moved to the museum in 1976. After years of planning and a successful "Save the Braun House" campaign in 2015, extensive restoration began in 2014 with the structure re-opening in August 2016.
Things were different, and at times, very difficult in the late 1800s.
Built in 1885 in the Burwalde area by Gerhard Braun, this log house reflects impressive craftsmanship. Its dovetail construction and engraved numbers on the outside corners allowed the house to be disassembled/reassembled easily if needed.
With only three rooms, the front half of the building served as the kitchen, dining room, living room, and entrances (from all three of the outside doors) and is where most of the family activities took place.
The other two rooms (in the back half of the building) were bedrooms. Photographs can be seen on the wall (in the master bedroom) of the parents and children from the original family, while a homemade wheelchair that was used by one of the children can be found in the second bedroom.
After immigrating to Canada, Jakob Braun of Osterwick carved a wooden bench in the kitchen with only a pocket knife and wooden dowels (no metal pieces). The painting above this bench shows the house and barn, with the north door in the kitchen leading to the barn.
