Sappington House Foundation’s request to disassemble and move the 1816 Joseph Sappington Log House was approved by the Crestwood Board of Aldermen on September 28, 2021.
The house is currently located in Affton, but will be disassembled log-by-log this fall and will be reassembled by November 2022 in the Crestwood Sappington Park, the site of the Thomas Sappington House Museum, the Library of Americana, The Barn restaurant, and Loft Gift Shop.
The non-original parts of the home will be removed and demolished – including a small addition on the west side. The front porch will also be demolished, but another will be built to replace it after the move. Interior demolition will include removal of non-original walls. Workers have started that interior demo and were removing all of the blow-in insulation when I took this picture.
Crestwood aldermen overwhelmingly voted to reimburse $100,000 of the cost and $25,000 toward utility relocation. Thus far, the Sappington Foundation has raised $125,000 separately from the City’s contribution.
The Foundation's "Save Joe" campaign will raise the remaining $200,000 to restore and repurpose the log house in Sappington Park. The log house will provide needed interior space for expanded educational programming, exhibits and events/meetings. It will also be updated with a new full-length porch for performances, a catering kitchen and ADA-compliant restrooms. It will be more than a museum. It will once again be a living, breathing gathering place! Their goal is to be ready to serve the public by November 2023.
Lots of financial help is needed to reach the foundation’s goal of $200,000. They have held two concerts earlier this year, one featuring a Beatles tribute band and another staring Pat Liston from Mamas's Pride. More help is still needed from lots of people – maybe even you.
The non-profit Sappington Foundation is asking residents and businesses to add their support and give financial aid for the 1816 Joseph Sappington Log House to open as a multi-purpose museum. You can help with a donation at their gofundme page https://gofund.me/6537ba30.