Most Interesting Home #4: The Cox Log Cabin

OXFORD, Ind. (WLFI) - We continue to reveal the top five "Most Interesting Homes" in Greater Lafayette based on your votes in our online contest.

One of those homes is the Cox House in Benton County. It's a log cabin-style home with a lot of history and filled with family memories.

Tamara Cox and her husband Mike live in the home Mike built himself in 1988.

"My husband had an original design plan which was to look small from the front, and to look simple," said Tamara.    

Tamara's husband is a direct descendent of Thomas Timmons. Around 1830, Timmons purchased land for his family in Benton County. A historical marker in front of a cemetery nearby says Timmons was the first white settler in Benton County.

Tamara said he purchased the land the first day it became available and the Cox family lives on his land to this day.
    
"Family is very important and that comes out in the house," she explained.

The Cox house is built with 10-inch lodge pole pines from Montana and according to Tamara, the logs are great insulators.

"When the house gets warm it stays warm and when it gets cool, it stays cool."

The Coxes have added on a bit since Mike first built the home. The additions were made to accommodate their growing family.

"When he (Mike) built [the home], he had no plans to be married or have kids and with that comes some challenges. There were no closets, the kitchen was very small." Tamara said.

After some remodeling, the Coxes have made the house their own with a mantra of "keep it simple."

"Everything is natural and simple and we like to keep it that way. We don't have window treatments and we decorate with our family pictures and artwork and things we've made from around the house," Tamara said.

They've also added some things that make their home even more unique, like a fireman's pole, for example. It runs from their oldest son's upstairs bedroom to his younger brother's room on the first floor.

Reporter: "What's your favorite room?"

Tamara: "The kitchen! (laughs)

Her other favorite room is the master bedroom, which has quite the view of the creek out back.

"Do you hunt? That's a question we get all the time and we don't because that would just be way too easy. (laughs) The deer are out there all the time, the turkey, the pheasants," she said.

Outside, sitting next to the house is "Fort Cox." It's a log cabin fort that's every kid's dream. It's also fun for adults, too. It's two stories with a wraparound porch overlooking the property. With a home like this one, it's obvious the Coxes love to entertain family and friends. Their home is perfect for that and for their family.

Reporter: "Could you imagine living anywhere else?"

Tamara: "Uh, no."