JACKSON, Wyo. — The historic Jess and Lillian Wort home, which currently sits in Jackson’s Gill Addition neighborhood, will be moved to Wilson this week.
Plans were made to relocate the 1,176 square-foot home after Second Mountain LLC, a California-based residential development firm, purchased the Gill property.
According to Shacks on Racks, the 1939 home is a smaller “twin” to the iconic Wort Hotel. The home was previously moved from its original location at the northeast corner of Pearl Ave. and Millward St. by Dennis and Sally Lundahl, who purchased the home from the Worts and moved it to 165 N. Gros Ventre St. in 1966 in order to expand their motel.
After nearby landowners were unable to receive the historic structure, the Teton County Historic Preservation Board recommended a 90-day demolition to allow for extra time to find a new home for the house. Due to the home’s association with the Wort family and its status as the only Tudor-style home in town, Town Council approved the board’s recommendation, giving any interested parties, including the owner, a chance to find an alternative to demolition.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have found a family across the river in Wilson who truly value the significance of this beautiful home,” Shacks on Racks Founder Esther Judge-Lennox said in a statement. “Saving this piece of our history has been no small feat, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that without their commitment and perseverance through this process, this house would’ve gone to the trash and our valley would’ve suffered a monumental loss.”
Shacks on Racks explained that the building’s roof will be removed to meet height restrictions during transport. The Gros Ventre stone facade and chimney will be sheathed in plastic and then surrounded by spray foam to support the individual blocks of stone, then boxed inside a snug timber frame. The facade will be laid on its face and loaded onto a trailer for transport, then raised back into place at its new home. The main stick-framed portion of the home will be cut in half for transport and joined back together on its new foundation.
Another nearby Wort family cabin located on 55 South Glenwood St. could also be considered for demolition or removal with potential construction planned for the northwest corner of Pearl Ave. and Glenwood St.
