Our Homestead

We are Rosslyn and Dave. We might not know exactly what we’re doing, but we love it.

Built in 1937, ‘TenGuys Lodge’ was a seasonal hunting cabin.

A group of Jewish businessmen and professionals in Duquesne started a bridge club that evolved into an informal social group known as The Ten Guys. Together, they built this cabin and shared it with their families.

Abandoned and vacant for over 15 years, nature had taken over and it was in bad shape in 2018. But we fell in love with it’s peaceful valley location, 8 wooded acres and unique character!

It’s still a work in progress and we’ve always got multiple irons in the fire. For more photos or to follow along with our journey, check us out on Instagram.

• Created gravel driveway and parking areas, spreading over 15 tons of gravel by hand

• Installed a pump to utilize existing spring house

• Totally gutted, insulated, rewired and installed new plumbing

• Built 5 wood bays to stack fuel

• Major structural damage repairs (smart jack installation and foundation work)

• New metal roof, insulation and addition of gable roof and windows over bedroom

• Hand-built and designed sliding barn doors with reclaimed materials

• Planted a variety of native trees, shrubs and flowers and started a fruit orchard and berry patch

• Dug a well as spring water back up in 2022

• HVAC system installed in 2023

• Hand-built stone hearth with rocks from stream

• Crawlspace renovations including sump pump, plastic lining, wall repair, and steel door installation

• De-nailed and salvaged countless boards of wormy chestnut!

• Built 3 chicken coop areas as well as a 25’ x 10’ enclosed run

• Excavated the entire front swamp to create a pond

• Removed countless snakes, along with bats, flying squirrels, and unknown carcasses and skulls

• Built a fenced garden area and started 9 raised beds

• Got started with beekeeping in 2022! Installed bear fencing and 3 hives.