What’s Noggin?
Many people wonder how the
Oak Noggin Bed and Breakfast
got its name. Betty explains that the wood is
actually hewn logs of white oak, hence
the oak part of the moniker, and noggin
refers to the “mortar” placed in
between the logs for insulation,
usually made from chunks of wood
and clay.
Betty and Dale Graff were perusing a
copy of the Pennysaver one day in 1996
when they spotted an ad for an 1830s
log house. The house could be acquired
by hauling the logs from the property. As
founding members of the West Jefferson Hills
Historical Society, the idea of adopting this old
log house and saving it from becoming firewood
appealed to them. They began to formulate a plan.
Betty was working as an art teacher and Dale was
involved in the printing business. If the log house could be
reconstructed on the vacant lot next door to their home as a bed
and breakfast, it could potentially provide an additional source of income,
while helping to preserve some of the area’s history.
They did most of the work themselves, including drawing the plans.
They consulted professionals wherever necessary and obtained approval
from an engineer for the design. The logs were dismantled and everything
that could be preserved was, and moved to the vacant lot. After advice
from an architect, they found that they needed more logs to be able to
construct a home large enough for a bed and breakfast. That led to the
discovery of a second original log cabin, which was even older and located
only about two miles away, off of Coal Valley Road. This one dated to
1786. With additional logs, they were now able to begin building a selfcontained log house that could accommodate overnight guests.
After a bit of research, it was discovered that the first log house from
which the Oak Noggin Bed and Breakfast is partially constructed was
owned by a man named William McGill,
who was the original settler in West Jefferson
Hills and a Revolutionary War soldier. The
house and surrounding acreage were known
locally as Gill Hall.
Building the log home turned out to be a
very creative endeavor – and lots of hard work!
Betty says she and her husband vowed to do some
type of work on the home every day until it was
completed, even if it was just a few strokes with a paint
brush.
The end result is a beautiful, authentic home that looks as
though it’s been standing there awaiting discovery since the turn of the
19th century. It’s situated on a hillside amongst tall trees that reflect the
changing seasons, with lots of birds, squirrels and rabbits as frequent
passersby. The peaceful surroundings make it very easy to imagine what it
must have been like before the squawking of television commercials and
the beeping of cell phones.
The home itself does contain some modern conveniences including a
kitchenette. A vegetable garden grows nearby and Betty frequently uses
ingredients from it in her homemade breakfasts that are a part of the
experience for visitors. She and Dale have decorated the home with Early
American artwork and pieces that are original to the period, including a
rope bed for which they created a new rope foundation with the original
headboard and footboard. (For those who are concerned about comfort:
you don’t sleep directly on the rope. A mattress is laid over the rope
foundation.)
The log house also has two woodburning
fireplaces, which, not surprisingly, has made it
a favorite for couples celebrating anniversaries
and romantic weekends. But the house actually
sleeps up to five people and many families enjoy
a weekend away as well.
Now both retired, Betty and Dale have been
able to focus on the bed and breakfast full
time, which is a good thing since the house can
sometimes be booked up to a year in advance
for special weekends and holidays.
For more information on this historical log
home, visit OakNoggin.com. ■
West Jefferson Hills | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 29