WARREN — An early Trumbull County log cabin in Braceville may be preserved and turned into a tourist attraction as the county commissioners, Trumbull County MetroParks Board and possibly a streaming program called Barnwood Builders combine their efforts to save a piece of the county’s history.

Commissioner Denny Malloy asked Trumbull County MetroParks Director Zachary Svette if his board would be willing to work with him to convince Barnwood Builders representatives to become involved with the renovation.

Malloy reached out to the show’s host, Mark Bowe, and told him about the Braceville log cabin. Bowe, according to Malloy, said they could be interested in doing a program about the cabin and its history.

The West Virginia-based show, which has been on for 19 seasons, salvages, restores and rebuilds pioneer-era log cabins and timber-frame homes.

“They travel across the country finding historical old barns and cabins and then either buy them, restore them and sell them on the private market, or, in some instances, restore them and turn them over to the local governments and historical societies,” Malloy said.

He noted that getting the log cabin restored through this streaming program could be a huge thing for Trumbull County.

“We could promote it in honor of the (nation’s) 250th anniversary,” Malloy said. “We could celebrate the cabin in a big way. The network would be able to cover a lot of the costs.”

Malloy added, “It would be a win-win for everyone. We don’t have to sell it or move it.”

Svette said the park board began openly discussing what to do with the log cabin in February. The board provided residents the opportunity to turn in proposals about what they would do to maintain the log cabin and the 5 acres on which it is located.

Last week, Trumbull County resident Cindee Mines, a member of the Howland Historical Society, asked commissioners to intervene in an effort by the parks board to sell the log cabin to a historical society outside of Trumbull County.

The commissioners agreed to call in Svette and members of the parks board to address Mines’ concerns.

Svette, on Tuesday, said whoever takes over the cabin will need the funds to restore it and do the day-to-day operation, maintenance and insurance costs, as well as provide funding for it.

Based on the interest expressed by members of the public over the past several weeks, Svette said the board is willing to wait until mid-June to make a decision on the cabin’s fate.

Commissioner Tony Bernard questioned if the park board would consider donating the cabin to the commissioners or an area historical society.

“Yes,” Svette said. “It was never about getting a particular amount of money for it. The park board is trying to give everybody a fair chance at submitting a proposal.”

While the county is exploring whether it can work with the show, Svette noted they should look at the short- and long-term costs of maintaining the cabin.

Bernard said he spoke with Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, and was told if the commissioners or some nonprofit organization gained control of the property, there may be state money available for renovation and maintenance of the site.

Svette estimates it could take six to 12 months to transfer the property because of the approvals the parks commission would have to obtain.

Mines described a new organization calling itself “The Friends of the Log Cabin” that would be willing to take responsibility for the log cabin.

“We have the Braceville and the Trumbull County historical societies that are willing to work with us with the finances,” she said.