The Hobson House: Get Away to an 1840s Log Cabin The Hobson House When Jerry & Debbie Loper bought their cabin it was to fulfill a personal dream: to live in the country in a log cabin. But things don’t always turn out as planned. Today their dream of having a log cabin in the country has been fulfilled, but their purpose has changed. Rather than living their own dream, they have opened their cabin to share with guests from all over the world who need a get-away. The Hobson House is a single log cabin in the woods of western Jackson County, near Norman Station. The cabin, which was moved to Norman Station from nearby Leesville in 1993 sits nestled in the woods. There are 28 acres to explore with hiking trails, picnic areas and natural sanctuaries, as well as a lake and a stream running through the property. Or if you would rather take in nature’s beauty from within the cabin, the view out the big picture window from the harvest table is magnificent. Background of the Hobson House The Hobson House was built in 1840 by Jonathon Todd, whose father Thomas Todd was a decorated revolutionary war hero. Jonathon received several tracts of land in the area, thanks to his father’s status as a war hero, and built the cabin from a stand of poplar trees. Jonathon gave the house to his daughter Jane as a wedding gift when she married John W. Hobson in 1850. John and Jane Hobson raised 10 children in the cabin. This antique spinning wheel sits in the corner of an upstairs bedroom. The cabin remained in the Hobson family until 1993, when the Lopers bought it after seeing an ad in The Trader magazine. They felt this cabin, though run down and covered with wood siding, could be their “dream home”. Debbie recalls that not everyone shared their enthusiasm. “When we took my father-in-law to see it he shook his head and said, ‘Just give me one match." But dreams do come true, even if not in their original forms. They decided to move the cabin in one piece in order to save the interior structures such as floors and stairways. Rather than disassembling and numbering each log, they removed the chinking between logs, the upper story logs and roof, and loaded the cabin onto the back of a truck. Miraculously, the house made it seven miles down windy county roads to its new home in Norman Station. The Lopers, who lived in Greenwood while their daughter attended Indiana School for the Deaf, worked on the cabin on weekends. Jerry, who is a construction superintendent, was able to get materials to build a kitchen and bath that blend with the rest of the house from old buildings that were torn down. They found these work weekends away from the city refreshing and rejuvenating. They began to feel they were being called to share their retreat with others who undoubtedly needed it. So instead of moving into the home of their dreams, they moved into a more traditional house on the property and opened The Hobson House to guests. This old-fashioned cook stove sits next to the microwavre in the Hobson House's kitchen. Open for Guests On Valentines Day of 1997 they welcomed their first guests. Some visitors have become almost like family, returning time and again. One couple, Simon and Teresa, met for the first time at the Hobson House. Simon, who was from England, and Teresa, who was from Kentucky, met over the internet and a relationship developed. They were looking for something in Southern Indiana and heard about The Hobson House. They met there in person for the first time and fell in love with each other and The Hobson House. Simon later proposed to Teresa at the Hobson House, and on December 30, 1999, they were married there with Jerry and Debbie as their witnesses. The Lopers feel the Hobson House has brought many couples closer together. They remember looking out one winter night when the moon was full and seeing one couple sitting outside next to a fire roasting marshmallows. “It was 10 degrees out that night”, Jerry recalls. All The Comforts Of Home Some of the beautiful antique furnishings you'll enjoy at the Hobson House The Hobson House is a comfortable abode not only because of its natural surroundings, but inside as well. The cabin is filled with antique furniture, a gas fireplace, a clawfoot bathtub, a huge harvest table, and some Native American relics. While rustic in appearance, visitors can still enjoy amenities such as heating and air conditioning, a full kitchen, a stereo with a wide variety of music and a VCR with a selection of classic movies. The kitchen is stocked with cookware and dishes, so you may bring your own food and cook there, or eat out at the nearby country restaurant. You can also arrange for a “breakfast in a basket” to be provided. There is no television or phone, but there are books, magazines and even a piano. The upstairs has a master bedroom, and also a loft bedroom, sleeping a total of four. Because the house is not childproof, they ask that guests not bring children under 13. Pets should be left at home too. The Hobson House is a delightful getaway. The Lopers have fulfilled a dream that has gone beyond their original vision: a dream that now involves providing a place for people to get away and be restored, refreshed, and rejuvenated. For information on the Hobson House call 812-995-2400 or write The Hobson House, 5525 N. 1275 W., Norman Station, IN 47264. Current rates are Monday through Thursday $66, and weekends $97.90 per night for two, including tax. Add $25 plus tax for use of second bedroom. Breakfast in a basket is available for an extra charge. <back to top>

All Feature Articles, artwork and photographs ©2001 by Dervish Design. Some information on the 'County Info' pages is taken directly from brochures published by Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.