‘The Funnel’ Story of a Hunting Shack

In 1936, Clyde Matthews built a modest chicken coop to harbor his chicks.  Through the years, this chicken coop remained on the farm.  It wasn’t until November of 1975, when a small time farmer, with a dream, bought a few acres of land to call home.

Clyde was attached to this coop (having built it himself) so it wasn’t a suprise that he would want to keep it. Part of the deal included removing the building and relocating it 6 miles into town. There it dwelled until his death.

Sometime in 2004, before the home was sold on auction, I asked his estate for the coop.  Clyde had used the building as a tool and garden shed.  With help from my hired hand, I loaded it up and brought it back home.

My delma came when I had to decide what to do with it.  After special consideration, I felt the best use would be to retro-fit it as a hunting shack.  Originally, there was a chicken door, 3 side-by-side windows, and a main door.  Since the roof was okay, I spent most my time adding more windows, siding, gun rest, shelves, carpeting, seating, and for mobility, I added wheels and tongue (for those who don’t know – a tongue is the join connecting the trailer to the truck hitch).

I loaned my newly renovated shack to my friend Gene in Glen Haven.  Gene eventually built a larger shack to house sleeping quarters.  Once again, the chicken coop came home.  It sat around the house (rent free) until I was able to find the perfect place to put it.  And I found it.  A popular place, we simply call it “the funnel”.