When Jerry Wernick was a young teacher just starting his career in southern California, he was determined to build a house for himself and his wife, Linda.
“The American Dream today is to own your own home,” he said.
“It used to be to build your own home.”
He had no practical experience with carpentry, plumbing or electrical work. When he went to the store for supplies, he had to describe what he needed because he’d never learned various fixtures’ proper names.
To further complicate matters, the Wernicks lived outside Los Angeles, where building codes were notoriously strict. Wernick had no idea how to build a house at all, much less build it to code.
But Wernick refused to be swayed. In college, he’d studied math, chemistry and physics and learned theories he was sure he could apply to building. His work followed the pattern of most of history’s great scientists: trial and error.
Eventually, he succeeded. He finished the house and passed inspection. It was invaluable experience for his next dream: building a country home in Northwest Montana.
The Wernicks were teaching in Ronan when they purchased land up the North Fork. In 1980, they decided to take a break from education and focus on building a home in the woods.
They wanted much more than a cabin on their North Fork property. They wanted a real home, a place they could raise their daughter, Rachelle.
They wanted to live off the grid and be completely self-sufficient. The North Fork — with no electricity or other utilities — was just the place.
“It was our dream to have a sustainable country home,” Wernick said.