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.
An 1880s Victorian Mansion in the Colorado Rockies: The Estemere Estate at Palmer Lake Page 1