Kimball Cabins- Can They be Saved?

Last fall, it seemed as though one of our town’s well-known landmarks was to be destroyed. The Kimball Cabins were falling into disrepair. Thankfully, two determined fourth grade girls, named Sammi and Melanam, decided to do something about this. Sammi had originally heard on the news that the cabins were to be demolished- but she knew she couldn’t live with that happening. “If they were demolished, every time I passed the road they were on, (which is often) I would feel sort of….. sad, and depressed,” Sammi tells us. Sammi told her friend Melana about this. Together, they thought of making a committee of fourth and fifth graders dedicated to saving the Kimball Cabins. They told Mrs. Jenkins, their teacher, about their idea, and she put it into action. That is how the Save the Kimball Cabins Committee got started.

So far, the committee has made great progress. Cabin 1 is almost ready for the winter with the roof and stairs done. Right now they are working on Cabin 2 and the bathrooms. They have raised almost $6,000, with the help of local businesses and a $2,000 donation from the 2015 Hopkinton seniors. “With the way things are going, the Halloween Holler might be able to be hosted there again next Halloween,” Sammi said.

The Kimball Cabins are a part of Hopkinton, but that isn’t the only reason to save them. For the past twenty-six years, fourth graders have enjoyed the Susan Pisinski Arts and Science Field Day at the Kimball Cabins. Activities include a fishing derby, drawing pictures, and a treasure hunt as well as a cookout. Without the ideal setting of the Kimball Cabins, this day may be done away with. The Halloween Holler has also taken place at the cabins. Last Halloween, however, it was done at Harold Martin School, for it was considered too dangerous at the Kimball Cabins.

Though these fourth and fifth graders are doing a great job, they shouldn’t have to do it alone. For those who want to help, you can contact Paula Simpkins, Lee Wilder, or the Kimball Cabins Committee. People can donate at the Halloween Holler, the Farmer’s Market and other events and public buildings. Know that even $5 is a good donation to help Hopkinton save this landmark.

These cabins are a big part of our community. Demolishing the cabins would be a huge loss of to the town. “The Kimball Cabins are what make Hopkinton….Hopkinton,” says Gina, a member of the committee. That is something we should all agree with. So, let’s help save the Kimball Cabins, and make Hopkinton a better place.

Be thankful for Sammi and her friend Melena, and what they have done to save the cabins. Otherwise, when you walk down main street or go for your morning jog, you will see the bare landscape where the cabins used to be- and are no longer.