An 1880s Victorian Mansion in the Colorado Rockies: The Estemere Estate at Palmer Lake Read online

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A Victorian Mansion in the

Colorado Rockies:

The Estemere Estate at Palmer Lake

Daniel W. Edwards

Roger W. Ward

Estamere 1893

An Architectural and Social History of a

Unique 19th Century Mansion

Published by:

Daniel W. Edwards

[email protected]

Roger W. Ward

[email protected]

www.estemere.com

Palmer Lake, CO 80133

©Copyright 2011

Revised Edition ©Copyright May 2012

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-1466406261—B&W Edition

ISBN 978-1466423725—Color Edition

[The Color Edition is titled An 1880s Victorian Mansion…]

No part of this book (whether mechanically printed or in electronic format) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without written permission or receiving Branding Rights from the authors.

Dedication

To Lady Estemere:

To her Spirit and

The Passion

She inspires in all of her owners

Past, Present, and Future

Table of Contents

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................................... iv

Disclaimer........................................................................................................................................................................ ix

Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................................................ ix

About the Authors ......................................................................................................................................................... ix

Historical Inconsistencies .............................................................................................................................................. x

How to Use the (Optional) Companion eBook ......................................................................................................... x

Where is Palmer Lake and Estemere? ....................................................................................................................... xi

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. xiii

Origin of the Name “Estamere”................................................................................................................................. xiv

The Rocklands Hotel .................................................................................................................................................. xvi

Abbreviations Used in Footnotes ............................................................................................................................ xvii

Chapter 1 Dr. W. Finley Thompson, Founder of Palmer Lake and the Man Who

Built Estamere (1883-1890) .................................................................................................................. 1

Dr. William Finley Thompson

· Thompson at Palmer Lake

Ada Mary Thompson Becomes the Owner of Estamere

The Thompsons Leave Palmer Lake

Chapter 2 Estamere’s Early Residents and Visitors (1883-1898).................................................................. 7

The Thompson Family and Its Guests at Estamere (1883-1898)

Joel F. Vaile’s Dispute with Dr. Thompson

· Dean Henry Martyn Hart

· Charles B. Kountze

· Dr. Thomas Gaddes

· Edward Kipps

· Dr. Frank Abbott

· Ira Kellogg Perego

Estamere in Foreclosure (1891-1898)

· Edward W. Rollins and the Rollins Investment Company

· Dr. Malvern Wells Iles

· Alfred Curtis Cass

· Judge Henry Clay Caldwell

· Margaret and George Martin

E. Chapin Gard Writes Palmer Lake the Gem of the Rockies

Chapter 3 The Summer House of Emily and Eben Smith (1898-1909) ..................................................... 18

Eben Smith Buys Estamere

· Ebenezer (Eben) Smith

The Smith Family at Estamere

Smith’s Efforts to Rebuild the Town’s Water System

Smith’s Impact on Palmer Lake’s Economy

· Local Residents Who Worked for and Provided Supplies to the Smiths at Estamere (1898-1905)

· Emily (Emma) Rundel Smith

Anne McCarroll—1901 Photos of Eben Smith at Estamere

The Mystery of the Lions

Eben Smith Mausoleum—Table

Chapter 4 Cora Carnahan and Smith Family Relatives at Estamere (1910-1926) ................................ 32

Cora Smith Caranahan Takes Over Estamere

Estamere as Rental Property

· Thomas F. Daly

· William S. Partridge

Plans for a Sanitarium at Estamere

Personalities of Estamere (1898-1920)

· Cora Isabel Smith (Daughter of Emily and Eben Smith)

· Charles Tingley Carnahan (First Husband of Cora I. Smith)

· Thomas A. Costello (Second Husband of Cora Smith Carnahan)

· Harold Smith Carnahan (Son of Cora Smith Carnahan)

· Doris Leonora Carnahan (Daughter of Cora Smith Carnahan)

· Emily E. Carnahan (Daughter of Cora Smith Carnahan)

· Courtland Stark Dines (First Husband of Doris L. Carnahan)

· Frank Leroy Smith (Son of Eben Smith)

· Eben Leroy Smith (Son of Frank L. Smith)

· Melvin Hill Smith (Son of Frank L. Smith)

· Frank Leonard Smith (Son of Frank L. Smith)

Other Visitors at Estamere

· Ralph Bulkley and Daughter Eleanor

· Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Cary and Daughter Evelyn

· “General” and Mrs. George Washington Cook and Son George

· John A. Ewing

· Judge Stuart D. Walling

Chapter 5 Professor H.H. Nininger and the Rocky Mountain Summer School (1922-1930)................ 44

· Professor Harvey Harlow Nininger

The Beginnings of the Rocky Mountain Summer School

The RMSS Incorporates and Purchases Estemere

· Four Summers of The Rocky Mountain Summer School at Estemere

Personalities of Estemere (associated Through the RMSS)

· Peter Paul Blass

· Bartel Edward Ebel

· Thomas L. Girault

· Florence Crannell Means

· Raymond S. Niswanger

· Sterling M. Price

· Otto H. Shrull

· Florence Marshall Stote

· John Stutzmann

Chapter 6 Estemere Hosts a Private School, Youth Camps, and Vocational

Training Programs (1929-1938)................................................................................................................... 60

The Pikes Peak Woodland School
(1929-1930)

The Gamma Phi Beta Camps for Girls (1931-1932)

· The Campers

· The Staff

· Support by Gamma Phi Chapters

· The Camps

The Graham Family at Estemere (1933-1934)

The National Youth Administration Vocational Camp (1935)

El Conejo Blanco (1936-1937)

The Co-operative Movement and the Farmers Union (1938)

· Harvey R. Solberg

Personalities of Estemere (1929-1938)

· Esther G. and Omer A. Coppock

· Mary Meigs Atwater

· Anna Linderfelt Fisher

· Dr. Robert Harrison Graham and Daughter Roberta

· Rev. Evalena Macy

· Charles W. Orr

· Harvey R. Solberg

Chapter 7 Families, Tourists, and the Estemere Lodge (1935-1949) ......................................................... 79

The Adams, Palmers, and Vesseys Buy Estemere

The Rocky Mountain Association

Preachers, Paperboys, and Tourists

Estemere Lodge under Margaret and William C. Blietz (1944-1949)

Pine Crest Campers and Officials at Estemere (1938-1948)

Japanese-American Campers at Pine Crest and Estemere

Personalities of Estemere (1935-1949)

· Rev. Oliver Martin Adams

· Margaret and William C. Blietz

· Rodney David Palmer

· Clarence Irving Vessey

· Lucartha “Lucy” and Frank S. Vessey

Religious and Educational Leaders at Estemere in 1935

· Bishop Hiram A. Boaz

· Dr. Larkin B. Bowers

· Dr. Joseph M.M. Gray

· Dr. Earl E. Harper

· Bishop Charles L. Mead

Japanese-American Youth and Estemere

· George Hinoki

· Dr. Joe Kamiya

· Akira “Sam” Sameshima

Chapter 8 Estemere Deteriorates Under Multiple Owners (1950-1964) ................................................... 96

· Helen T. Dees: Texas “Widow” (1950-1956)

· Leonard M. Bentley: State Politician (1956-1957)

· The Gotwals at Estemere (1957)

· Ada S. Knapp: Retired Chicago School Teacher (1957-1958)

· Leon Snyder, Attorney and Historical Preservationist (1958-1964)

· Gene Evans and Estemere, Inc. (1960-1962)

Repairing Estemere

· Deane Delgado (1962-1964)

Doris Sharkey Almost Buys Estemere (1964)

Personalities of Estemere (1950-1964)

· Leonard M. Bentley

· Walter F. Clausing

· Helen Tot Dees

· Ada S. Knapp

· Leon H. Snyder

Chapter 9 A Vacation Home for the Leonard Family (1964-1986) ........................................................ 107

Joan and Donald Leonard Buy Estemere

Duane Hanson’s 1977 Photos

Don Leonard and Mid-America Investment Co.

Plans for a Victorian Village at Estemere

· Hi-Co, Mid America, and Don Leonard

The Follmers at Estemere

Personalities of Estemere (1964-1986)

· Donald Eugene Leonard

An Interview with Jody and Virgil Watkins

The Flood of 1965

Chapter 10 Jim Peterson: an Absentee Owner (1987-1998) ..................................................................... 116

Jim Peterson Buys Estemere

Dan Fraley: Estemere’s Caretaker (1991-1998)

Henson’s Plans for a Bed and Breakfast at Estemere

Fraley Markets Estemere

Peterson Sells to the Wards

Chapter 11 The Evolution of Estemere’s Structures (1883-2011) ........................................................... 122

Thompson Builds “Estamere I” circa 1883

Thompson Builds “Estamere II” circa 1887

· The Main Floor

· The Second Floor

· The Third Floor

“Estamere III” circa 1887-1888—A Queen Anne Victorian [Designed by Frederick Sterner?]

· The Main Floor

· The Second Floor

· The Third Floor

Furnishings of Estamere III

The Grounds of Estamere III

Smith’s Work on Estamere III and Its Grounds

· Lighting

· Eben Smith’s Furnishings

Changes to Estemere circa the RMSS Era

Estemere’s Changes during Blietz’s Years

Estemere during the 1940s

Dees’ Era

Leon Snyder Hires Deane Delgado (1962-1964)

The Leonard’s Era

Chapter 12 Kim and Roger Ward Purchase and Restore Estemere (Exterior) (1998-2011)............... 150

Kim and Roger Ward Purchase Estemere

Estemere Then and Now

Restoring Estemere as the “Crown Jewel” of Palmer Lake

· The Grounds

· The Rock Wall

· The Shed

· The Conservatory

· The Carriage House

· The Roof

· The Master Bathroom

· Pavestone®

· The Cherubs

· The Lion’s Rest

· The Gazebo

Kim and Roger Ward

Chapter 13 Interior Restoration (1998-2011)................................................................................................ 167

The Interior Restoration of Estemere

· Heating and Insulation

· The Old Basement

· Wallpaper

· Electrical Wiring

· The Floors

· Light Fixtures

· The Conservatory

· The Fireplaces

The Main Floor

· The Entry

· The Sitting Room

· The Parlor

· The Dining Room

· The Television Room

· The Radio Room

· The Guest Bathroom

· The Kitchen

· The Butler’s Pantry

· The Music Room

· The Billiard Room

· The “Smoking Room”

· The Office

· The Master Bedroom—1900

· The Master Bathroom

The Second Floor

· The Original Master Bedroom

· Bedrooms #1-4

· The Second Floor Bathroom

The Third Floor

· The Third Floor Sitting Room

· The Observatory

The Widow’s Walk

The Tower

The Two-Car Garage Loft

The Cottage

Special Thanks

Chapter 14 Visitors from the Past and Open Houses................................................................................... 198

Eben Smith Era

· Julia Moore Mynett

· Ashton Rollins II

RMSS Era

· Clara Richter Euhus

· Nininger’s Daughters

· Charlene Clark McCall

Estemere Lodge Era

· Winnie Metzler and Bernice Vessey Brenner

· John Kelley and Family

· Reverend Mason Brown

· The Blietz Children

Estemere Deteriorates Era

· Dan Dees

· Niki, Marc, and Aisha Delgado

Public Tours of Estemere

Halloween

Chapter 15 Estemere for Sale (2008-2011)................................................................................................... 206

Dan Edwards Interviews Roger Ward

Edge Realty

The New Owners

The Personalities of Estemere (1998-2011)

Appendix I: T
he “Value” of Estemere............................................................................................................. 209

APPENDIX II: Legal Documents Relating to Estamere.................................................................................. 211

Appendix III: William Finley Thompson Chronology................................................................................. 213

APPENDIX IV: Approximate Chronological History of Estemere............................................................... 216

APPENDIX V: Estemere Water Payments to the Town of Palmer Lake....................................................... 218

APPENDIX VI: When did Palmer Lake First Get Electricity?...................................................................... 219

Disclaimer

The material contained in this book (the term “book” is hereafter used to refer to this document whether in physically printed form or in electronic form) is based on documents, newspaper articles, interviews, first-hand knowledge of the authors, and other sources. It is provided as an educational project 1) as a contribution to the history of Palmer Lake and an account of the people who have lived in and visited the town; 2) to study the social and architectural history of a Victorian mansion; and 3) to archive documents, videos, and photos relating specifically to the history of Estemere, while the original source material still exists and while some of the early participants still are living.

The newspaper articles and some of the books, pamphlets, and brochures from which information was obtained for this work may be copyrighted and/or trademarked by their respective publishers.

The authors specifically disclaim liability that may be incurred from the use of this book.

Acknowledgements

All photos and illustrations come from the private collections of Dan Edwards and Roger Ward, unless otherwise noted in a footnote. Many of these items were donated by past visitors or residents of Estemere (Mary Jane Adams, the Blietzs, etc.). We wish to acknowledge the tremendous assistance given to us by many sources, including (but of course not limited to) the Palmer Lake Historical Society and Museum—and in particular to Rogers Davis for his time and energy in helping us find some of the resource material used in this book, Duane Hanson for the interior photographs of Estemere in 1977, Anne McCarroll for the 1901 photos of Eben Smith, Clara Ricter Euhus for the 1929 RMSS annual, Mary Jane Adams for the 1935 home movie, the Mead family for the Graham photos, and David Forsyth for material on Eben Smith.

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