A labor of history: Volunteers build home for Dan Urbanski Artist in Residence program

July 11, 2006 By JAN TUCKER Ironwood Globe Staff Writer

SILVER CITY — Some 20 men and a handful of women have become part of a historic project at the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park. The timber framing class, sponsored by the Friends of the Porkies will result in the completion of the Dan Urbanski Artist in Residence House. The class is actually the first in a folk school program created by the Friends group.

Dan Hopkins, Charlevoix, joined the framing class because he is interested in all kinds of construction. By profession, however, he is a conservation officer. Other students include a lawyer, teachers, loggers, a contractor and a woman who was a retired school teacher. “This has been a wonderful experience for all of us.” Hopkins said.

Others in the class are from Sault Ste. Marie, Bay City, Ishpeming, Pelkie and Lansing. Steve Stier, Lansing, is the instructor. Stier is a preservation contractor who drew up the plans for the log home and is teaching the art to those who registered for the course. The house is erected on the building site just off the Porcupine Mountain Campground area, a stone’s throw from Lake Superior.

It will then be dissembled and stored until footings are poured at the eventual building site near the Little Union River just off the cross country ski trail. No nails are used in constructing the 16- by 20-foot house as timbers will be fitted much as they were hundreds of years ago. The class has had to learn a new language. The upright, which most people would call a frame, is the “bent.” The bottom part of the house is the “sill.”

Stier said teaching the class is good for him. “It was an excellent group and it gave me a good excuse to come to the Upper Peninsula and enjoy a vacation,” he said. The group has completed the test assembly, which ended the class until the building is finally reassembled in the park.

Tim Reis, Bay City, was enthusiastic about the work. He said he will be back in the Upper Peninsula to see the building. One student noted, “I will bring my family here and be bragging to my grandchildren some day that I built this house.”

The group collectively said they had learned much about framing, worked hard and enjoyed the fellowship on the project. “This is a beautiful location,” one commented.

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