Step inside this locally sourced log cabin that was constructed in a variety of ways, including with round-hewn logs, to evoke the improvisatory spirit of cabin construction in the 19th century. Although it was built in 2019, the cabin has the appearance of a restored relic from the and is equipped with cutting-edge, eco-friendly appliances. At the entrance to the Peachey Construction headquarters in Montana, near Canyon Ferry Lake, is a rustic log cottage. At first look, it appears to be one of those 200-year-old adze-hewn constructions, complete with dovetailed corner joints and recovered charm, that was deconstructed in the East and hauled out there. But you’d be wrong; the log cabin was built on the spot by Peachey Construction owner Menno Peachey just a few years ago, using state-of-the-art energy-saving technologies in addition to traditional materials and methods. The logs used for the walls, the floor, and the beams all originated from a region no more than 20 miles away.
Peachey found the flagstones used for the bathroom floor and porch edging in a quarry close to Harlowton. The moss-covered boulders that make up the chimney were sourced from a property in the outskirts of Great Falls. Kim Loftus, a potter based in Helena, made the tiles for the shower and the backsplash in the kitchen. Peachey’s work shines out against the backdrop of Western Montana, which is experiencing an unprecedented building boom. The log cabin serves as a modest exhibition space for his work integrating raw building materials with the landscape in a manner that harkens back to a time when people carved their living and working spaces out of stone and timber that lay close to the building site, the craftsmanship constrained by the technology of hand tools.
Peachey is nearly finished with his 3,000 square foot workshop, a gigantic timber-framed building with log rafters that are cunningly dovetailed into 8-by-10-inch beams, many of which include compound miters that would stump even a master geometer, and located just a few yards from the log cabin. Every stair step on the staircase in the middle of the store is dovetailed into the stringers so precisely that glue is unnecessary since he is a master of the compound dovetail.
One group pours the foundation, another does the framing, and a third covers the build-up for every team that comes after them, including electricians, plumbers, sheet rockers, and more. But Peachey is well-known for carrying out construction projects single-handedly, from the ground up. He is guided in his work by his dedication to the centuries-old methods of construction used by craftsmen in Europe and the Eastern United States. Quality work completed in a timely manner have made his company, Peachey Construction Inc., a household name. Even if their clients aren’t in the market for a brand-new house, they might be interested in having some rooms remodeled or added onto their current residence. The builders help them realize their vision. They are experts in easing the stress of renovations on your family so that everyone can relax and have fun.
Designed by Peachy Construction Inc.