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PrintHistoric Hawkwood is an enduring Montana retreat
Plucked from the edge of oblivion, this enduring Montana retreat has been restored to offer five-star refinement in an Old West setting.
Right from the full moon reflects off a fresh mantle of snow, illuminating the rugged mountains surrounding West Boulder Valley. Outside no movement stirs the frigid air; the silence is profound. In the distance, a single dot of light shines like a beacon, welcoming travelers to the warm and inviting log home.
"There is a sense of peace here at Hawkwood that is almost spiritual," says Kendall, the home's owner, casting a long look around her cozy retreat. For the East Coast native, Hawkwood was an unbelievable find. Plotted on the original Montana Territory map as a town, the only edifice was a tiny log cabin which served as a stagecoach stop and post office from 1896 to 1903. In 1904, the cabin was turned into a one-room schoolhouse until subsequently closing in 1926. Abandoned, the site was later acquired by a private party.
An avid traveler, on one of her many trips to Montana Kendall drove out of the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and into Paradise Valley. "It was a pivotal moment," she says. "The unspoiled beauty captured my heart in a profound way. Intuitively, I knew I was home."
Kendall moved to Montana, initially settling in the Shields River Valley outside of Livingston, where she spent a great deal of time camping and exploring the wilderness. One particular hiking trip took her to the West Boulder River Valley. "Though I stumbled upon this remote area quite by accident, it became my favorite spot for solitude," says Kendall, who returned to the area frequently.
Her route took her past a tiny log cabin standing on top of a hill. An ardent preservationist, she was pleased to see that the historic structure had been left undisturbed. "One day my realtor friend told me the cabin might be coming onto the market. I literally ran to see it; a few days later, the property was mine."
Located on a 1-acre "in-holding" inside of a 900-acre permanent wildlife reserve, the property abuts the Gallatin National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area. Perched atop a small knoll, the unimproved cabin had a sweeping view of the West Boulder Valley. Inside, there was one room downstairs and an open, unfinished loft area upstairs. Amenities included an outdoor privy and well. "No doubt about it," Kendall says, laughing, "it was rough. But I had a very clear idea of how it could be transformed into a rustic yet luxurious retreat."
Preserving the original structure was the number one priority. Though numerous contractors and design experts pushed to raze the building and start new, Kendall held firm. "I made a career out of re-packaging consumer products. I knew there would be a way to 're-package' this historic place," she says.
Kendall recruited friend and architect Holly Hatch Lindauer to help with the design. For Kendall, it was imperative that the new addition didn't compete with the beauty of the original building. She also wanted to retain intact as much of the historic structure as possible. Using reclaimed and natural materials was a high priority as well.
Final plans called for the original cabin to sit as a center-piece in the middle of the house, transforming what were once exterior walls into interior walls for the dining room, kitchen, and master suite on the main level. Kendall added more than 2,000 square feet to the structure, including a foyer, formal dining room, gourmet kitchen, three guest suites, three full baths, and two half baths. She also replaced the old foundation with a new walkout basement complete with a home office and one of the guest suites.
Outside, the home was fitted with a handsome entry and large deck, both with handcrafted burl railings. The copper roof, which was installed by hand using a traditional method that left no exposed rivets or screws, was weathered to a dark patina to give the home a timeless appearance.
Inside, the cabin exudes a sense of history and rustic refinement. In the entryway, a lofted pine tongue-and-groove ceiling is supported by hand-hewn logs from the original structure, which had to be removed to create an entry to the living room. For the entry floor, Kendall selected natural bluestone rock, which is warmed underneath by radiant heat.
From the foyer the home opens beautifully with a moss-rock see-through fireplace that connects the living area in the original structure to the formal dining addition. To the left along the wall stands a gorgeous custom chest made by Russ and Rusty Viers of Viers Furniture Company. Titled Don't Fence Me In, the one-of-a-kind furnishing was constructed with 100-year-old juniper fenceposts and glazed buffalo leather and hand-painted by Clint Viers. On top of the chest is a bronze titled Born to be Wild by T.D. Kelsey.
To the right of the fireplace is the formal dining room. Comfortably seating eight, a massive table sits on a base constructed out of antique logs removed from the original structure. The oversize, rustic-looking chairs were designed by Kendall and handcrafted out of native chokecherry wood by local artisan Bruce Campbell. "We used fabric and leather from the Finley Lake Trading Company_-_it's the same material used in high-end hickory furniture, but with local wood," says Kendall. Above the table hangs a custom chandelier made of naturally shed elk antlers. On the wall, an Indian chief painting by Harley Brown brings a splash of color to the space.
Beyond the dining room is a graciously appointed kitchen. The custom cabinets were constructed out of reclaimed fir, and the darker wood detail was made out of antique wood from an old barn out of Ringling, Montana. Countertops in dark green with white marbled soapstone and a matching farmhouse sink bridge the contrast between light-colored cabinets and a heavy patina on the original log wall. Top-of-the-line appliances, including a Heartland refrigerator and Dacor down-venting stove, bring a decidedly gourmet feel to the kitchen.
Between the kitchen and living room, Kendall installed a unique wet bar. "The bar itself was made out of an old cow trough from a ranch down the road and lined with copper. The base was made out of old car springs — it's quite a conversation piece," she says. Above the wet bar, adding to the Western ambiance, is an original painting titled Wild Horses by O.C. Seltzer.
With three separate bedroom suites, the cabin can comfortably accommodate up to 11 people. Each suite is elegantly appointed. Unique to the main floor suite are two pairs of shutters which can be opened to the main living area to create a sense of spaciousness or closed for privacy. Rustic wooden furnishings complemented by fine linens and warm area rugs combine to create five-star luxury in a historic setting.
Located on the lower level, Kendall's office continues the refined Western motif. A burl-legged writing desk and matching chair were handcrafted by Russ and Rusty Viers using glazed buffalo leather and knobs made from antlers. A red, green, and gold antique Turkish area rug warms the room and anchors the work area. An original painting by Clyde Aspevig titled Hidden Lake adorns the office wall.
"This project was as much about preserving the history of Hawkwood as it was about creating a luxurious, one-of-a-kind retreat," Kendall says with a pleased look on her face. "There were so many twists and turns. In the end, my original vision came together even better than I had hoped. Hawkwood is fully 're-packaged' and preserved for another hundred years."
