This old house could use a little help

COEUR d'ALENE — The Jewett House, at more than 100 years old, is showing signs of its age and the city of Coeur d'Alene is looking to freshen it up.

City Parks Director Bill Greenwood said it's not that the home built in 1917 is in disrepair. Far from it.

"We've continually improved it," he said. "It doesn't need a lot."

But the landmark could use an electrical upgrade, repairs of foundation cracks and other basic upkeep.

The city's Historic Preservation Commission recently discussed what the city could do to preserve the home, which offers a view of Lake Coeur d'Alene from its site fronting Sanders Beach.

The commission is looking into having the Jewett House listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Commissioner Anneliese Miller noted there isn’t anything urgent, and the process could take a few years.

She said the "facility could be more beneficial to the public but doesn’t have the ability to have a commercial kitchen," according to meeting minutes.

Construction of the Jewett House began in 1915 for Huntington Taylor and his family. Taylor relocated here from Wisconsin to oversee the building of the new Edward Rutledge Timber Company, which once occupied the adjacent land that The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course now encompasses, according to a previous Press report.

He and his family lived there until 1928, when George Jewett took over as general manager. Jewett lived there with his wife and two children until 1937, when they moved to Spokane after a merger between Rutledge Timber and Potlatch Corp., of which he later became president.

The Jewett House then became a company home used to house staff and guests of the business. The house was granted to the city of Coeur d’Alene in 1978 by Potlatch Corporation as a public commodity.

Since, it has been used by seniors, writers and other groups that pay a small fee, and rented for weddings, retreats, anniversaries and other special events.

Greenwood said the Jewett House generates about $35,000 annually, and those funds go back into maintaining the structure.

It has been repainted, repaired from when a tree that fell on it several years ago and sewer improvements made. A caretaker watches over it, as well.

The Jewett House is well cared for, Greenwood said. But any assistance from the preservation commission and possibly having the home listed on the National Register of Historic Places would be welcome. It could lead to grant funds specifically for the Jewett House.

"It's just a great opportunity for us," he said.

Miller said the Jewett House could generate additional revenue if electrical upgrades were made that would allow food trucks to cater events.

A “visioning group” may be formed to provide guidance on what the three-story home should look like.

Commissioner Shannon Sardell said because the Jewett House is a public building there is assistance available through Idaho Heritage Trust.

"If granted, they will pay for the 'first steps' to get the ball rolling by providing a list of things to be done for preservation by putting together a code analysis that could give a 5- to 20-year plan," according to meeting minutes.