Work begins to restore Sperry Chalet building in Glacier National Park damaged by fire

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced on Friday that Glacier National Park has begun stabilization work at the Sperry Chalet dormitory building to prepare for winter.

On August 31, the building burned http://www.krtv.com/story/36267385/main-building-at-glacier-national-parks-sperry-chalet-destroyed-by-fire when the Sprague Fire significantly expanded and surrounded the Sperry complex.

The chalet was erected in 1913 by railroad magnate James Hill, as he and his son looked at ways to spur westward tourist travel on their Great Northern Railway. The chalet opened in 1914, its rock and wood construction weathering decades of the elements.

"The Glacier Conservancy was able to get an engineering crew up there with our staff practically the day after we asked for help. With winter approaching, we could never have moved fast enough without the support of our private philanthropic partner to get this critical work done."

Donations to the Glacier National Park Conservancy https://glacier.org/ have funded the work of the engineering firm and will fund initial stabilization materials and needed labor this fall.

By David Sherman – MTN News

http://www.kpax.com/story/36379292/work-begins-to-restore-sperry-chalet-building-damaged-by-fire