A Project Inspired by Sperry Chalet
Sperry Chalet was built in Glacier National Park in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway. It is one of several backcountry lodges built by the railroad as a way to increase passenger traffic . The stone used to construct the Sperry Chalet is red and green Proterozoic argillite, quarried near the chalet within Glacier National Park.
The Great Northern Lodge
The stonework of Sperry Chalet served as an inspiration for the Great Northern Lodge near Whitefish, Montana. Since 2011, Quarry Works has had the good fortune to work on this unique project with Centre Sky Architecture, High Country Builders, and Riley Masonry.
Thousands of Tons
From the beginning it was clear that Great Northern Lodge would require thousands of tons of stone in colors and size ranges that reflect the appearance of the Sperry Chalet. There was no existing quarry for this stone.
Prospecting for Stone
By a stroke of geologic luck, the same Proterozoic formations that underlie Glacier Park are also exposed in other parts of northwest Montana. The appropriate stone existed somewhere out there. The stone search was on.
Up an Obscure Logging Road
Quarry Works partnered with long-time Montana quarrier Jim Norvell to help find and produce stone for Great Northern Lodge. From a lifetime of experience in the mountains of northwest Montana, Jim was able to locate a site on timber company land where stone similar to that on Sperry Chalet could be quarried.
Quarrying Begins in 2011
A visit to the proposed quarry site by the owners of Great Northern Lodge convinced them that this stone would be suitable for the project. Quarrying began soon after. Due to the project’s inspiration from Sperry Chalet, the stone has since been called Sperry Stone.
Tonnage
Approximately 4000 tons of stone were quarried and shipped for the main residence, which was completed in 2017.
Still Quarrying
The separate guest house, now under construction, is expected to use another 1500 tons.
Tragedy: Wildfire Burns Sperry Chalet
In a terrible twist , a 2017 wildfire in Glacier Park destroyed wooden structure inside the stone walls of Sperry Chalet. The building that inspired the Great Northern Lodge was severely damaged, but rebuilding was made possible due to quick stabilization work by the National Park Service and the Glacier National Park Conservancy. The story of the rebuilding of the Sperry Chalet will be in the next Stone Journal post.
