One of the oldest structures in Platte County may get a new lease on life thanks to a proposed partnership between the University of Missouri Extension and Platte County.
Extension representatives presented a proposal last week to Platte County Commissioners at their regular Monday, June 19 administrative session, held in the Platte County Administration Center in Platte City.
Construction on the Dorothy Day Cabin at the Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve began prior to the Civil War in the 1850s, making the original cabin one of the oldest still-standing residences in the county. The cabin, which was restored by Platte County in recent years at a cost of around one million, is the central facility in the 48-acre wildlife preserve near Parkville, but has existed in a state of limbo.
County officials have long voiced their desire to use the cabin, which was named for artist and conservationist Dorothy Day, who lived in the cabin from 1948 to 2011.
“The Dorothy Day Log Cabin is a unique asset,” said District Commissioner Joe Vanover. “I am optimistic that we have finally found the right partner to activate this property without destroying the beauty of the site. Years ago, the county commission approved spending a million dollars to preserve the cabin. The cabin has been largely unused since then. I look forward to seeing how Mizzou Extension will use the cabin property.”
The University of Missouri Extension plans to use the space for programs such as Master Gardeners, 4-H Youth Development, yoga, health and nutrition and more. A visual arts and writing artist-in-residency program — in partnership with Platte County Parks and Recreation — also is in the works, as are engagement opportunities such as artist talks, poetry readings and concerts.
“Programs like these are a very powerful tool for community development and vitality,” said Elena Stephenson, MU field specialist in community development. “We are excited to be able to share the vision and plans for this special place in Platte County.”
Artist-in-residence programs give artists the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing them with time to reflect, research or produce work, according to Extension officials. During a residency, artists can explore new locations and cultures, and experiment with different materials. Much like study abroad programs, residencies end up having a long term impact on the artist’s life and work and end up benefiting the community.
Artists would live and work in the cabin for a short period ranging from a week to up to three months and the residency would end in an exhibit open to the public.
The Platte County Council of the Extension has allocated $3,000 to help kick off the Dorothy Day Cabin projects this summer, with a call for artists put out by the fall. The launch of Extension programming and the artist residency program would be sometime in the spring of 2024.