THE BENGSTON CABIN

The Bengston Cabin is one of the few remaining examples of pioneer log cabin construction in the greater Sammamish area. The cabin, currently vacant, is located in the front yard of Duane Isackson's home at 3019 244th Ave. NE.

Johanna Isackson and James Bengston met in Germany while working for Kaiser Wilhelm. They subsequently returned to Sweden, the country of their birth. From Sweden the Isackson men and James Bengston came to the United States. The women of the family came at a later date.

James Bengston's Certificate of Naturalization is dated October 22, 1887, the State of New York, Rensselaer County Courthouse in the City of Troy.

The Bengstons and Isacksons traveled to the state of Washington by way of the transcontinental railroad in 1887. Their original homestead was a combination of two 80-acre homesteads.

The Bengston Cabin is believed to have been built in the winter of 1888. There is still bark on the logs. The cabin was chinked with moss. At one time there was a small shelter that extended off the back of the cabin. This is where Johanna did her cooking in the summer. Water was obtained from a well located about 200 feet from the cabin.

James Bengston was injured while felling a tree. He lived in the cabin for seven years after the accident. He built a system of pulleys to move himself around.

Johanna Isackson Bengston lived in the cabin until 1947. She then moved to a small house that was built on property owned by her nephew. The house is just below the cabin and the Isackson Mill at 3235 244th Ave. NE.