Alta’s Cabin
Alta’s Cabin was originally built for founder Dr. Alta Schrock to do her writing. It was moved to the property as one of the first Village artist studios.
Alta Schrock (1911-2001) began her love of nature by identifying and listing several hundred native medicinal herbs, trees, ferns, and flowers. In high school, which went to the 7th grade, Alta established a natural history museum in the school basement, landscaped the school grounds, and wrote nature essays in the Meyersdale Republican. After school, she asked her father if he could build her a little cabin in the woods if she could collect delinquent accounts from his business. Instead of money, she collected lumber. Alta's sister relates, "A little cabin in a neighbor's woods turned from dream into reality, and it was there she did much of her writing." Alta studied plant life from here within a 15-mile radius.
Alta’s cabin, “The Sanctuary,” was moved to Spruce Forest in 1970.
Resident Artist: Lenore Lancaster, colored pencil artist
Alta’s Cabin before the storm in 2020
The Rebuild Is Under Way!
Damage Assessment: Alta's cabin was directly across from Bear Hill School and the damage to the front was extensive. This building has been moved to the area behind the potter’s cabin. A volunteer group has offered to repair Alta's cabin because of the historical nature of it as the founder's cabin of Alta Schrock. It will be relocated near the New Covered Bridge when it is rebuilt at the entrance to the Village.
Alta’s Cabin awaits repairs in a temporary location overlooking the Casselman River Bridge