This grand lodge, sited on waterfront property, owned by the family since the late1950’s, was modeled after the great national park lodges built during the great depression. Constructed with heavy timber framing, the great beams and columns were recycled from a turn-of-the-century warehouse that was torn down to make way for a new development. Two massive rock fireplace chimneys, over 10 feet wide by 40 feet tall, support the lodge in the event of an earthquake, as well as providing flues for the lodge’s seven Rumford fireplaces. The timber frame utilizes a series of “hammer beams” with massive mortise and tendon joints that are secured with oak pegs. This allows the wood frame to span clear across the great room. The huge window wall in the great room gently curves to pass between the timber frames located both inside and outside the structure. Radiant floor heating is utilized to warm the home.
Each bedroom has a different theme. The “Chris Craft room” is modeled after a vintage Chris Craft yacht, with gently curved wood ceiling and shallow beams spanning across the width of the room. Another is modeled after a pup tent, with built-in beds and a steeply sloped ceiling adorned with fabric curtains.
Many special features were built on the property, such as a man-made lake that is stocked with trout. The owners plan to teach their grandkids how to fly fish. This water can also be utilized for irrigation of the surrounding property during the hot summer months, as well as control surface flooding during the occasional torrential downpour. In the rear of the property there is a camping circle to be used by the family or an occasional Boy Scout troop. There is a mature bald eagles nest on the property, occupied for over a decade, that is almost 10 feet across and growing with each spring nesting season. The local bird population sounds the alarm whenever the eagles take flight. For a brief time this is the loudest sound to be heard.
Water wells on the site have not yielded a steady source of water, so a de-salination plant is used to turn salt water to fresh water without depleting the surrounding aquifer. Stone was quarried on Vancouver Island and shipped by barge to the job site for use in construction. Each stone is cut and fit by hand, some of the stones measuring over 12 feet across.
The Lodge was recently showcased in the local home tour to raise money for the town charity. It was a humbling experience to be able to watch each visitor as they entered the great room. Young or old everyone stopped and slowly rolled their head back to take in the full grandeur of the timber frame. Then a smile would slowly spread across their face as the visitor began to absorb the beauty of the room; its huge windows looking toward the water, the ancient wood beams, and wrought iron railings and chandeliers, all this anchored with two enormous stone chimneys. I had several of the visitors tell me that this is a home that has to be experienced, it is impossible fully comprehend by just looking at photographs. Many of the visitors stayed for several hours, thanked the owners and me as they left. They visibly enjoyed their chance to visit the home.
