Where Craftsmanship Meets Conservation

Mary Locker Cabin

Preserving a Frontier Legacy at Antietam

An 18th-century log cabin gets a second chance through hands-on restoration

Building Overview

ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

The Mary Locker Cabin is a rare and remarkably intact example of deep frontier architecture, dating back to the 1730s. Built from local materials including hand-cut beams, riven lath, stone, and lime-dirt plaster, the structure reflects the resourcefulness of early settlers. Due to its deteriorating condition, the National Park Service (NPS) constructed a protective structure to safeguard it, recognizing its historical and cultural value.

Renovation Focus

Structural stabilization, plaster restoration, foundation assessment and training for NPS preservation teams.

Renovation Focus

Plaster Magic® Solution

1.

Led NPS training on evaluating original plaster, lath, and substructure conditions

2.

Repaired and conserved original lath where possible

3.

Recreated and applied historically accurate plaster using lime, native dirt, and cattle hair

4.

Reattached existing plaster using the Plaster Magic® adhesive system

5.

Applied new single-layer lime-dirt plaster to match original installation methods

Where Conservation Meets Early American Ingenuity

The Mary Locker Cabin restoration demonstrates how modern conservation techniques can be harmonized with 18th-century building traditions. Plaster Magic® not only helped rescue a national treasure from further deterioration, but also empowered the next generation of stewards through expert training and on-site mentorship. Our solution honored the original materials, while extending the life of a structure, that tells the story of early American resilience and ingenuity.

Person wearing a hard hat and protective mask, using a spray tool on a wooden ceiling.
Hand using a drill on a wall with peeling paint
Person applying sealant to a wall with a sponge
Marble surface with cracks and yellow circular marks
Person in a hard hat applying plaster to a ceiling
Rust and peeling paint on a metal surface with wooden paneling.
Person in a green hard hat and coveralls applying a substance to a wall.
Person using a Bosch drill on a wall
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wall with a rustic interior.
Person working on a ceiling in an old building with exposed beams and peeling paint.
Worn and damaged wall with peeling paint and exposed structure
Wooden wall with white patches of paint
Person applying plaster to a wall with a trowel, next to a wooden panel.
Damaged wall with peeling paint and exposed wooden structure
Wooden bench partially buried in the ground with natural surroundings
Person using a drill on a wall with visible pipes and tools.
Person working on a wall with wooden planks and tools
Person in a hard hat working on a rusty metal surface inside a building.
Two workers in green hard hats and uniforms applying a wooden panel to a wall.
Hand holding a tool against a wooden ceiling with visible damage
Person wearing a green helmet and white gloves working on a wooden ceiling.
Person in a green hard hat and safety goggles working on a ceiling.
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wall with tools in a confined space.
Peeling paint on a wall with visible cracks and damage
Person wearing a green helmet and white gloves working on a wooden ceiling.
Wooden shed with metal roof in a grassy area with trees in the background
Damaged wall with peeling paint and a large hole
Person working on a ceiling with wooden slats and tools.
Stack of wooden planks with visible grain and texture.
Two workers in a confined space, one applying material to the wall.
Person in a green hard hat working on a wall inside a building.
Person in a green hard hat using a power drill on a concrete wall.
Person in green hard hat and coveralls applying a substance to a wall with a spray bottle.
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wooden ceiling.
Person using a drill on a concrete wall with a green helmet and gloves.
Person wearing a hard hat and protective mask, using a spray tool on a wooden ceiling.
Hand using a drill on a wall with peeling paint
Person applying sealant to a wall with a sponge
Marble surface with cracks and yellow circular marks
Person in a hard hat applying plaster to a ceiling
Rust and peeling paint on a metal surface with wooden paneling.
Person in a green hard hat and coveralls applying a substance to a wall.
Person using a Bosch drill on a wall
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wall with a rustic interior.
Person working on a ceiling in an old building with exposed beams and peeling paint.
Worn and damaged wall with peeling paint and exposed structure
Wooden wall with white patches of paint
Person applying plaster to a wall with a trowel, next to a wooden panel.
Damaged wall with peeling paint and exposed wooden structure
Wooden bench partially buried in the ground with natural surroundings
Person using a drill on a wall with visible pipes and tools.
Person working on a wall with wooden planks and tools
Person in a hard hat working on a rusty metal surface inside a building.
Two workers in green hard hats and uniforms applying a wooden panel to a wall.
Hand holding a tool against a wooden ceiling with visible damage
Person wearing a green helmet and white gloves working on a wooden ceiling.
Person in a green hard hat and safety goggles working on a ceiling.
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wall with tools in a confined space.
Peeling paint on a wall with visible cracks and damage
Person wearing a green helmet and white gloves working on a wooden ceiling.
Wooden shed with metal roof in a grassy area with trees in the background
Damaged wall with peeling paint and a large hole
Person working on a ceiling with wooden slats and tools.
Stack of wooden planks with visible grain and texture.
Two workers in a confined space, one applying material to the wall.
Person in a green hard hat working on a wall inside a building.
Person in a green hard hat using a power drill on a concrete wall.
Person in green hard hat and coveralls applying a substance to a wall with a spray bottle.
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wooden ceiling.
Person using a drill on a concrete wall with a green helmet and gloves.
Person wearing a hard hat and protective mask, using a spray tool on a wooden ceiling.
Hand using a drill on a wall with peeling paint
Person applying sealant to a wall with a sponge
Marble surface with cracks and yellow circular marks
Person in a hard hat applying plaster to a ceiling
Rust and peeling paint on a metal surface with wooden paneling.
Person in a green hard hat and coveralls applying a substance to a wall.
Person using a Bosch drill on a wall
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wall with a rustic interior.
Person working on a ceiling in an old building with exposed beams and peeling paint.
Worn and damaged wall with peeling paint and exposed structure
Wooden wall with white patches of paint
Person applying plaster to a wall with a trowel, next to a wooden panel.
Damaged wall with peeling paint and exposed wooden structure
Wooden bench partially buried in the ground with natural surroundings
Person using a drill on a wall with visible pipes and tools.
Person working on a wall with wooden planks and tools
Person in a hard hat working on a rusty metal surface inside a building.
Two workers in green hard hats and uniforms applying a wooden panel to a wall.
Hand holding a tool against a wooden ceiling with visible damage
Person wearing a green helmet and white gloves working on a wooden ceiling.
Person in a green hard hat and safety goggles working on a ceiling.
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wall with tools in a confined space.
Peeling paint on a wall with visible cracks and damage
Person wearing a green helmet and white gloves working on a wooden ceiling.
Wooden shed with metal roof in a grassy area with trees in the background
Damaged wall with peeling paint and a large hole
Person working on a ceiling with wooden slats and tools.
Stack of wooden planks with visible grain and texture.
Two workers in a confined space, one applying material to the wall.
Person in a green hard hat working on a wall inside a building.
Person in a green hard hat using a power drill on a concrete wall.
Person in green hard hat and coveralls applying a substance to a wall with a spray bottle.
Person wearing a green helmet working on a wooden ceiling.
Person using a drill on a concrete wall with a green helmet and gloves.

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