Rebuilding History: Black Rock Cottage in Shenandoah National Park
When a lightning strike destroyed the historic Black Rock Cottage in Shenandoah National Park three years ago, it marked the loss of a beloved piece of park history. Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the cottage has now been brought back to life through a Federal, Public, and Private partnership — and with the skilled hands of Martin Horn’s in-house framing crew.
Superintendent Jeremy Moore led the effort on site and shared what made this project so unique.
Craftsmanship in the Mountains
Martin Horn’s in-house framing team played a critical role in the reconstruction.
“Our team did the wood framing, set trusses, wood siding, and trim,” Jeremy said. “We also built a fireplace for a gas fire.”
The crew included P.C. Shifflett, James Conley, Charlie Haney, and Chris Ballard as the core team on site, with K.B. Byers and Marco Camacho joining to help set trusses, and Chad Thacker supporting early on.
Jeremy praised their creative problem-solving and efficiency.
“Their desire to be as efficient as possible really stood out. Everyone was focused on getting it right.”
Building in a Protected Setting
Working inside a national park brought its own set of challenges. The team had to adapt to restrictions on work hours and the remote nature of the site.
“There were restrictions on the times we could work when visitors were there,” Jeremy said. “And communication was tough — there was little cell service. It was like being back in the ’90s when you knew someone was calling, but you had to stand in just the right spot to answer. They even gave me a satellite phone, but that only worked in one specific area.”
The Value of an In-House Team
Jeremy credits the project’s success to the strength and familiarity of Martin Horn’s in-house framing crew.
“It makes a huge difference to work with a team you already know,” he said. “The communication, the trust, and the shared goal of getting the project right — that’s the value of an in-house crew.”
A Job Well Done
The team’s speed and precision didn’t go unnoticed.
“The people from the Park Service, Delaware North (the owner’s rep), and others involved in the project all told us how efficient we were and how quickly we got it done,” Jeremy shared.
Looking back on the finished project, Jeremy summed it up simply:
“A beautiful, remote location on a historic property that will hopefully be enjoyed for generations.”
