Norrish Construction - Montana's Builder of the Year 2000

Story by Jim Jackson photos by John Norrish & Jim Jackson

Each year the Montana Builders Association holds a statewide convention for its members. Prior to the state convention, the boards of the nine local associations around the state meet to nominate a local builder and builder associate (i.e. electricians, plumbers, subcontractors, suppliers, insurance agents, etc.) for the Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year award. To earn the nomination, a builder or associate must be active in the local, state and national organization and participate in other civic-minded organizations and/or activities. The award recognizes superior craftsmanship in construction, dedication to the advancement of the construction trades and commitment to community service. Although it is labeled an "of the year" award, in order to even be considered, a builder or associate must have a history of accomplishments and have earned the respect of his peers in the local association. 2000 is a banner year for the little community of Bigfork in the eyes of the Flathead Valley Builders Association and the Montana Builders Association.

Architects Gorman & Richardson of Boston designed this home. It sits on steeply sloped terrain above Flathead Lake. The design utilizes the space and provides spectacular views of the lake at the same time.

Not just one, but both of the prestigious annual awards were earned by Bigfork people. John Agnew of Western States Insurance and John Norrish of Norrish Construction earned this year's awards for their outstanding contributions and commitment to the construction industry. Congratulations to John Agnew of Western States Insurance for earning the recognition he so richly deserves. John has spent many hours in volunteer service to our community both in the United Way and as a member of the Bigfork School District facilities committee and board. John Agnew has many more accomplishments I could tell you about, but that will have to come in another story. John Norrish and his twin brother, Joe, came to the Flathead Valley in 1983. At the time, they had a successful construction company in Moscow, Idaho, where they had been living for twenty years. The Norrish brothers were born and raised in northern Wisconsin; they became residents of Idaho when they transferred from the University of Wisconsin at Superior to the University of Idaho. After graduating from Idaho, the brothers started a construction company. They built homes for some of the university professors, lawyers and doctors they met during their years as students and active volunteers in Idaho's athletic programs.

The steel superstructure allows for rooms to hang suspended over the ground. The steel is covered with wood to give the home a natural look that blends with the natural landscaping.

 "We had two passions in those days," explained John during our interview last week, "building homes and following sports. We ran clocks at track meets, traveled with the football and basketball teams, timed wrestling matches and covered sports events on Vandals radio for 14 years. We spent almost every minute of our free time watching or volunteering at sports events either at Idaho, Washington State or in Spokane. We were so busy that we didn't have time for much more than a little hunting and fishing. That's why Joe was nearly fifty before he got married and I was 55 when I married Regina." The brothers originally came to Montana to build a four-plex house for a man they knew as the team physician at Idaho State. "University budgets started tightening in the early '80s, and we were looking for work in other places when Dr. Rogers asked us to build a four-plex on land he owned just outside the Kalispell city limits on Grandview Drive.

We came over thinking that we would go right to work, only to discover that some details about water and sewer service had not yet been worked out." Bigfork caught their eye; they purchased a condominium unit at Bigfork Harbor, not to live in necessarily but because they thought it would be a good investment. They were down in Bigfork at the condo when they ran into Mr. Stewart of Stewart & Janes Construction. He offered them a job building a unit at Bigfork Harbor while the details on the Kalispell project were being worked out. "We built that unit, then went up and did the four-plex for Dr. Rogers. When that was finished, Mr. Stewart offered us the chance to build two twelve-plexes at Bigfork Harbor. The rest, as they say, is history. "We started working out at Eagle Bend in 1985, first for Mike Felt's Eagle Bend Construction and then as independent contractors. Mike was really good to us; he sent a lot of work our way because he saw the kind of work we did and our willingness to take on a challenge.We got a reputation for being able to build high end homes on challenging sites. We worked steadily at Eagle Bend for the next 13 years and built some beautiful homes on the rocky ridges above the clubhouse.

Right: John takes a minute to pose with his Builder of the Year plaque.

Custom built homes are John Norrish's specialty.

 We were so blessed to be able to find steady work building luxury homes for people with money. It's very rewarding and exactly the kind of work that we both enjoyed. That's what kept us going over the years, the challenges of building in difficult spots and the opportunity to build homes for people that appreciate craftsmanship and can afford premium quality materials and fixtures." Three years ago this coming January, Joe fell at a construction site and was killed instantly. Losing a twin has to be a difficult experience, especially when they are as close as John and Joe were. For a while John considered moving back to Idaho, but when he contemplated the idea of sorting through and moving all their stuff, he decided to stay in Bigfork. "Northern Idaho is a beautiful area and I loved it there, but I've traveled this country from East to West and North to South and there is no place any better than the Flathead Valley.
"I know I made the right decision when I decided to stay in Bigfork. It's my home now, and come this time next year, I will have lived in Bigfork longer than anywhere else. It's still difficult without Joe," shared John. "What I really miss is the way we used to work together; there were so many things we didn't even have to discuss. If something needed to be done, like going to get paint or materials, one of us would just drop our tool belt and go. We always knew exactly what was needed and what would satisfy when shopping for supplies or materials." The tragic loss of his brother did not diminish John's energy or dedication to his craft. Norrish Construction has continued to flourish and to take on new challenges. John continued his involvement in the local and state building association as well as serving on the Bigfork advisory planning and zoning board for seven years. He served as chairman for two different Parades of Homes and also served for two years as chairman of the Flathead chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He held a one-year term as President of the Montana Builders Association. It was his dedication to the Builders Association and to the community that earned him the local nomination and ultimately this year's statewide Builder of the Year award."It's nice to be honored by your peers. Especially because there are so many excellent builders in this state and in the Flathead Valley." John continues to take on challenges. Currently, he's building a home on Flathead Lake for the Von Rittbergs. Gretchen Von Rittberg is the daughter of longtime Bigfork resident Betty Wetzel. "This house was designed by the Boston architectural firm of Gorman & Richardson. Becky Gorman is another of Betty's daughters, so you could say this house has been a family project. The site is challenging to say the least. The home sits on the face of a cliff-like grade that plummets down to Flathead Lake about 70 feet below. The client and architect wanted to create a home that would take full advantage of the incredible views while at the same time taking on the look of a bird perched above the water. The result is a home that features two "wings" and a huge deck that hang cantilevered from a central core. "In order to create the effect of a free floating wing, we had to build a superstructure using steel and then build our wood structure on top of that. Even the wooden support beams in this house are beefed up with extra steel between the laminations.

In this picture you can clearly see the steel beams and concrete pillars that support the home.

 Once the steel was in place, it was all covered with wood to give it a more natural and organic look. Learning how to cover the steel with wood was just the kind of challenge I enjoy," explained John. The result is nothing short of spectacular. The view from the living room is stunning, but the most intriguing part is standing near the window, looking down and realizing that the rock solid floor you are standing on is suspended in the air some thirty feet above the ground. "It's such a blessing to be able to build unique and exciting homes like this, and I thank all the wonderful clients we've had over the years. I'm proud to say that in the forty years that my brother and I have been building single-family houses, we have never built the same floor plan twice."
John has seen many changes in the construction industry, especially since coming to Bigfork. The advances in building materials, construction techniques and fixtures has been amazing. Modern luxury kitchens are a blend of high tech, high style and quality craftsmanship. "It's very rewarding to build a house that brings joy to the owners. Life is good when you love what you do and where you live."I want to thank all the sub- contractors and suppliers that I have worked with over the years. All the suppliers in this area, especially Sliters here in Bigfork, have worked very hard to stay on top of the latest trends and advances in building materials. It makes my job a lot easier when I know that most of the time I can get what I need just by giving the guys at Sliters my specifications."
The Journal would like to take this opportunity to congratulate John Norrish of Norrish Construction for being named Montana's Builder of the Year 2000. It is nice to know that the many years of hard work and the willingness to accept a challenge have earned you the recognition you so richly deserve. If you have a dream home you would like built or a challenging site that someone has told you can't be built on, Norrish Construction can help you make your dream a reality. John can be contacted at 756-3252 or 253-2901. Once again, John, congratulations and best wishes on a bright future.

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