It was donated by Max Zink to the Flower Trail Garden Club in 1979 and moved to Wartinger Park. Originally located on the southeast corner of New Germany and Grange Hall Roads on property which was owned by the Zink family. The Zink family had moved there in 1932. For many years, the home was rental property , then it stood empty. Finally, the Board of Health issued a close order. In the process of tearing off the weather stripping, the old log cabin was discovered. Research showed that the cabin was built by John Nicodemus in 1811.

The Nicodemus Cabin became the second cabin at Wartinger Park, the first being the Jarusiewic Cabin, both are used by The Flower Trail Garden Club. Stone removed from the cabin’s original foundation was used around the cabin base.

• Nicodemus Cabin Nicodemus Cabin
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The Jarusiewic Cabin (c. 1805) was discovered in April 1972 on North Fairfield Road. In 1972, Beavercreek resident George Jarusiewic owned the property, and his restaurant was named Scotties. George Jarusiewic wanted to preserve the old house for Beavercreek. The house was dismantled, meticulously, and rebuilt at Wartinger Park by George Jarusiewic.

In the spring of 1997, the 16 by 24-foot structure was removed from the park by the Beavercreek Parks, Rec. and Culture Dept because of insect infestation. Only the fireplace was salvaged. Brady Kress, Executive Director of Dayton History made the replica, authentic to the period. Ten tons of stone made the stone fireplace from a cabin located on Sperling Lane in Beavercreek.

Just ahead is the Filer Cabin at 1228 Ankeney Road.  At first glance, it appears a traditional frame farmhouse of the early 20th century.  In fact, it is a well preserved log cabin circa 1820 that was covered with wooden lap siding, possible built by the Heddleson family.

Of historical significance, the first recipe for making artificial color for butter in the world was perfected in a shed that stood next to the cabin.  This occurred shortly after August 2, 1866 when the USDA announced that the coloring of butter was now permitted by law.

Also alleged, but unsubstantiated, is that there was a blacksmith shop on the property that led to the making of the first leather mailbags.

On the downslope you’ll see a northern and southern access road into the Valley View Memorial Cemetery, look to your left between them and you’ll find a very old log cabin that we don’t know a great deal about.  It appears on the 1855 map with the name A. Russell (likely Adam Sr. 1771-2/10/1857, his father Joshua served in the Revolutionary War) attached and the 1874 map on the 100-acre property of J. Russell (likely Joshua  Sr. 1810-10/17/1879 or Joshua Jr. 1826-10/17/1857).

The Russell Cabin is in pretty rough shape, if interested in seeing it, expediency is recommended.  This is private land, so please do not trespass.

Much of the surrounding land was owned in 1874 by John C. Allen and later the Steel and Flynn families.

In 1921 the Hagenbuch’s sold the mill building to Ben Belden; he moved it piece-by-piece to the north side of the creek and switched it to electric power.  The original building still stands and is known as the Daytona Mills.  In the mid-1940’s, long before  the development of the Coy Homestead Estates neighborhood, the original Jacob Coy cabin was purchased by Mrs. F.H.  Hagenbuch and moved to their property and lovingly restored to period.