Life
by Penny Pool photos by Emily Wilkins and courtesy of the Baker family
Family and building materials get a fresh start in this rustic Lake Wedowee home
he Baker family built more than a house -- they built a family while working on their cabin just outside of Wedowee. Guy and Kay and their three sons, Jeffrey, Kyle and Adam, all participated in the construction and began living in the secluded cabin as they built it. What makes their home truly unique, however, is the fact that it is built almost entirely of recycled and salvaged materials. Although it is just off of U.S. Highway 431 and you can hear the swishing sounds of cars flying by, you feel like you are hidden deep in the woods. The winding dirt road through the trees prepares you for the other-world feel of the log cabin perched on the hill with its water wheel turning. It was a life change for Guy, who had become overwhelmed with his work, he said. His wife tells a little different story. A buddy of his knocked on their door on their Camp Baker property in Roanoke where they once ran a popular daycare program. The buddy had just sold his house and needed a place to rent. Kay said she told him at that time they didn’t have any available rental property. She said he then talked to Guy, who said, “give me 30 days.” The cabin that was on their property next to Lake Wedowee had no running water, no room for the boys, with just the den, kitchen and loft bedroom. But with their backs against the wall, they had to get it ready. 34