Bringing the Blackwell House back to life
Chuck Orr stands in front of the Blackwell House during its restoration. Courtesy of Chuck Orr
Chuck Orr stands with a door made in part from the original roof on the Blackwell House. Orr has owned the house since 2018.
DAVID BERNAUER/Press
The Blackwell House as it currently stands today.
DAVID BERNAUER/Press
One of three original clawfoot tubs in the house alongside new tiling.
DAVID BERNAUER/Press
A renovated front room which had originally been the porch when the house was first built.
DAVID BERNAUER/Press
What the front room looked like before Orr refurbished the house.
Zillow photo
The Blackwell House before Orr had purchased and refurbished the home.
Zillow photo
Orr's son Clay doing demo work inside the house.
Courtesy of Chuck Orr
Orr's son Caleb and friend Patrick Wilson apply spray foam as part of restoring the Blackwell House.
Courtesy of Chuck Orr
The banisters on the stairs are new, modeled after the original banister which was left in place at the top of the stairs in this photo.
DAVID BERNAUER/Press
People say items are built to last. But Spirit Lake resident and newly appointed City Councilman Chuck Orr saw otherwise when he happened upon the Blackwell House. Originally owned by area lumber magnate Frederick Blackwell, the house had fallen into disrepair over the past 120 years. Orr decided he would refurbish it.
“It was in such rough shape, but there was something that just drew me to it,” Orr said. “It was so overgrown with trees and lilac bushes and everything that you could hardly see it.”
Orr had built his mother a house on his property in Cougar Gulch; however, his mother was having trouble driving down the mountainous roads during the winter. Looking for somewhere she could get around more easily, Orr found the Blackwell House in Spirit Lake and bought it in September 2018.
“It’s the whole reason I moved to the town,” Orr said. “I came here for this house.”
The previous owners tried to refurbish the house, but the broken windows and holes in the walls and ceiling led to poor results. They installed new electrical and plumbing, but Orr had to replace the heating system because it didn’t work properly. Friends, family, and contractors have contributed to the renovation, but Orr and his sons, Clay and Caleb, have done most of the work.
“My sons, they’re there through thick and thin,” Orr said. “The demo, the insulation, the putting drywall up, it’s everything that goes into a project. I wouldn’t be this far if they hadn’t helped.”
The three of them refinished the original wood flooring, built up and knocked down walls, did trim, cut bricks and did plenty of other work to preserve much of what gives the house its character. The house has three original clawfoot bathtubs and stair banisters modeled to look exactly like the one retained original section of banisters.
“I want it to feel like it's still original, but still have some updated amenities,” Orr said. “Like opening up the kitchen so you can converse, that type of thing.”
Orr’s fiancée, Shannon Burmeister, has seen the joy renovating has brought him.
“It’s a huge labor of love,” Burmeister said. “He loves it so much that he appreciates when other people appreciate the history of the house.”
Orr says he wouldn’t have met Burmeister, made the incredible friends he’s made in town, or been appointed to the Spirit Lake City Council if he hadn't purchased and renovated the home.
“People notice you fixing things, bringing the history back and keeping it from falling down,” Orr said. “I don't know that I would be a council person had I not been refinishing this house. This is what started everything.”
Now and again, Orr thinks about the Blackwell family and how they used the home.
“The deck is where (Blackwell) would have been able to look directly down to see the rail station and his wood mill working,” Orr said.
Another quirk of the house was a button on the dining room floor that Blackwell and his family could press with their feet while sitting at the dinner table. That button would let the housemaid know that something needed attention.
“It’s kind of crazy to think when you're sitting down and having dinner that instead of walking and getting your own bottle of wine, you would just call someone,” Burmeister said.
Further plans for the Blackwell House include working with the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office to get it on the National Register of Historic Places, and perhaps hosting weddings for Orr’s grandkids in the distant future.
Orr and Burmeister hope to host an open house next summer to celebrate its 120th anniversary, giving curious visitors a chance to see the final product of nearly a decade of work.
“I'm hoping to be grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, have soda and beers for everybody and just let people walk through,” Orr said. “We’ll maybe have some little things set up where they can read about certain things we've done around the home.”
Chuck Orr stands with a door made in part from the Blackwell House's original roof. Orr has owned the house since 2018.
The Blackwell House as it currently stands today.
One of three original clawfoot tubs in the house alongside new tiling.
A renovated front room that was originally the porch when the house was first built.
The Blackwell House before Orr purchased and refurbished it.
Orr's son Clay doing demo work inside the house.
Orr's son Caleb and friend Patrick Wilson apply spray foam as part of restoring the Blackwell House.
The stair banisters are new, modeled after the original banister left in place at the top of the stairs in this photo.