27 July 1908
Hal Godwin & Lucile Cummins (grandtwins) born in Oroville, CA.
24 Nov 1908
Lucile Cummins dies.
31 Jan 1909
Estelle marries Frederick Delange Cats, an electrician for a power company.
30 Sep 1909
Jessie marries Charles L. Schellentrager in San Francisco.
Apr 1910
Ada living in Rhyolite, Nye County, NV with Estelle & husband Frederick.
Apr 1911
Fred & Estelle Cats & Ada Thompson move to Silver Peak, NV.
04 Jul 1912
Ada Thompson dies in Silver Peak, NV.
25 Apr 1913
Jessie dies in Long Beach, CA. Dwight & Hal go to live with Estelle.
ca. 1916
“Estamere” spelling becomes “Estemere.”
June 1916
Estelle and Fred living in Bishop, CA; Ada is not with them in 1920.
5 Dec 1919
Dr. Thomas Gaddes, former PL town physician, dies in England.
1923
Estelle and Fred are in Glendale, CA.
1927
Dwight W. Cummins marries Dorothy Yost. Dorothy & Dwight become Hollywood screenwriters (movies & TV). They have no children.
1929
Nettie Berry leaves PL and moves to Colorado Springs.
03 Jan 1930
Nettie Berry dies in Colorado Springs at Beth-El Hospital; buried in Monument Cemetery.
12 Apr 1950
Fred Cats dies in Glendale, CA; Hal living with Estelle.
28 Jan 1955
Estelle dies; cremated in Glendale, CA—Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
07 Sep 1961
Hal Cummins dies in Glendale, CA.
1967
Dorothy Yost Cummins dies in Los Angeles Co, CA.
31 May 1985
Dwight W. Cummins dies in Monrovia, CA—the last of WFT’s lineage.
Appendix IV
Approximate Chronological History of Estemere
1882
Dr. Thompson moves to Denver from London.
1883
Dr. Thompson and Dr. Arthur Visick plat Loch Katrine, later renamed Palmer Lake.
1883-1888
Construction of Estamere by Dr. William Finley Thompson & Ada Mary. Architect unknown. Daughters: Estelle, Lucile, Jessie. Unable to verify cost.
1889
The Rocklands Hotel is built. The original Estamere I was added onto The Rocklands Hotel.
1888-89
Dr. Thompson mayor of Palmer Lake. Also served as Postmaster.
1890
Dr. Thompson, wife, and daughters moved NYC, bankrupt; his sister Clarisa Berry and his mother move into a house on Highland. Dr. Thompson dies in Mexico in 1892 from typhoid fever.
Oct 1891
E.H. Rollins & Sons Investment Co. of Denver takes over Estamere.
30 June 1898
Eben Smith (a rich miner and one of the founders of First National Bank of Denver) buys Estamere for $5000. He adds a bedroom onto the northeast wing in 1900.
05 Nov 1906
Eben Smith dies. The original front porch lions were moved to Eben’s mausoleum in Denver’s Fairmount cemetery. They are now missing.
26 Dec 1909
Emma Smith (Eben’s wife) dies. Mrs. Charles T. Carnahan, daughter of Eben, takes over.
08 Sept 1926
Ray Niswanger with two others organizes the RMSS, Inc., which acquires Estemere for the use of the RMSS.
1927-1930
McPherson College of Kansas operates the Rocky Mountain Summer School (RMSS) at Estemere, headed by H. H. Nininger. Carriage House "Pioneer Hall," Cottage "Twin Pine Lodge."
1932
Electricity comes to Palmer Lake. Lead tubing and black pipe, indicating that the first lights were acetylene, later natural gas. The house was wired several times. The 1930 yearbook of the RMSS mentions the "warm glow of the gas lights." We believe electricity came to Estemere in 1933.
1931-1932
Camp for under-privileged girls, sponsored by Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.
July 1935-July 1944
Adams and Clarence Vessey own Estemere and operate "Estemere Lodge;" tennis court, miniature golf; croquet court. [Daughters of Clarence Vessey visited Estemere summer of 1999.]
1937
Anna Fisher directs "El Conejo Blanco," a weaving school for young ladies.
July 1944-Dec 1949
W.C. Blietz owns Estemere. Tillie McCarty rented the East Wing during part of Blietz' ownership.
1949
Carriage House reduced by 50% to build the 4-plex adjacent to the B&E restaurant in Palmer Lake.
1949
2nd story balconies removed by W.C. Blietz in 1949 when he re-roofed Estemere.
Dec 1949-Sep 1956
Helen Dees owns Estemere. W.C. sold Estemere to the Dees in partial exchange for a public swimming pool and spa in Florence, CO.
18Sep1956-20Apr57
Ada Knapp owns Estemere.
Apr 1957-June 58
Leonard Bentley, state politian, owns Estemere.
1958
Date on underside of toilet lid indicates date East Wing Master Bathroom was previously remodeled.
June 1958-Sep 1964
Leon Snyder owns Estemere. 1960-62 Gene Evans “owns” Estemere. Billiard Room fresco painted by Deane Delgado, who resides at Estemere with his wife and son 1962-1964. Deane was hired by Snyder to repair and restore Estemere.
Sept 1964-Jun 1987
Don Leonard, a lawyer from Nebraska, buys Estemere. His wife, and her parents Bryce & Helen Follmer reside at Estemere. Leonard replaces balconies and lions.
16 June 1965
Waterspout flood. Kitchen demolished. Legs on Dining Room table show 12 inch depth of mud.
Jan 1966
Two inch thick rockwool insulation bats were installed in the East Wing Master Bedroom walls (discovered during re-insulation of the room in 2004). The drywall in the bathroom dated 1966.
03 Sept 1967
Date on newspaper 'insulation' found in walls of old bathroom in East Wing when bathroom was demolished to construct new bathroom with walk-in closets and laundry room.
05 Jan 1973 &12 Nov 1975
Leonards sell Estemere to Mid-America Investment Co. (a company set up by the Leonards for tax or estate planning purposes). El Paso County takes the property on 12 November 1975.
Mid to Late 1970s
Waterfall & rock wall added behind Manor House; Gazebo behind Manor House added. Chicken Coop converted into Chapel; the plywood used in the bell-tower dated January 1974. Roger attached a rope to the bell in August 2002.
1986
Joan Leonard dies.
28 Aug 1987
Jim Peterson, CEO & President of Bojangles Restaurants, buys Estemere from El Paso County for $66,600. (Jim's daughter Grace is married to one of Follmer's grandsons, a Leonard.)
1990s
Loft in the Carriage House is converted into living space by Dan Fraley, Estemere's caretaker.
1991
Main house (except East Wing) recarpeted; front cement walkway redone.
17 Jan 1994
Don Leonard dies. His mother-in-law, Helen Follmer, lived in the Caretaker's Cottage until 1996.
1996
Helen Follmer moves to nursing home in Denver. Furniture auctioned by Don Leonard's family. Helen died 31 July 2003. Remaining furniture is pre-Leonard/1965?
04 Jan 1998
Kim and Roger Ward purchase Estemere from Jim Peterson. Restoration begins summer 1998. New larger Kitchen, Conservatory, and three-car garage/Carriage House begins in 1999.
March 1998
A 10 foot section of the rock wall in from of Estemere collapses due to heavier than normal spring rains, tree roots, and decaying mortar. Other sections are discovered to be bowed outward. The rock walls, including the wall in front of the main house, are repointed.
1998
Fall 1998
The Shed behind the Kitchen is moved across from the cottage to allow expansion of the Kitchen and to improve the view from the Kitchen window.
June 1999
The old Kitchen is totally removed. Construction begins on the expanded Kitchen and the Conservatory.
17 Aug 2002
Walking tour of Palmer Lake hosted by the Palmer Lake Historical Society. Over 250 people tour.
April-Aug 2002
The Tower is restored and the house is re-roofed. The Observatory is re-roofed with RHEINZINK® shingles.
08 May 2003
Chuck Pyle performs a fundraiser for the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department in the Carriage House.
17 May 2003
Estemere is toured by approximately 120 women from the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club.
10 July 2003
The stained glass ceiling in the Conservatory is completed. Designed by Kim; glass by Judy Wisdom.
23 Aug 2003
The Palmer Lake Historical Society uses Estemere as a fundraiser; about 300 people tour.
Summer 2004
The driveways are paved with PaveStone, as well as around the upper fountain, back patio, and east garden. About 250 people tour Estemere for the Historical Society tour.
June 2006
An authentic wool runner is placed on the main-stair steps. The Observatory ceiling is finished and the floor is covered with wool carpet.
July 2006
Over 600 people tour Estemere—hosted by the Palmer Lake Historical Society.
May 2008
The deteriorated fountain cherubs are reproduced in bronze by Art Castings of Colorado in Loveland.
July 2008
Siding on west side of Carriage House replaced with Hardy board. Awning added to the chapel. Cedar shingles on the Chapel’s bell tower are replaced.
July 2008
Over 500 people tour Estemere—hosted by the Palmer Lake Historical Society. Dan Edwards publishes the definitive biography of William Finley Thompson.
October 2009
The pedestals holding the lions beside the front steps are removed and replaced with rhyolite stone pedestals matching the rock wall. The badly dry-rotted gazebo on Glenway Street is restored.
21 May 2010
Around 85 women from the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club tour Estemere.
June 2010
Replaced the cement and stucco fascia at the front steps’ gate with natural rhyolite stone.
July 2010
The upper fountain is resurfaced with Aquacoat.
24 July 2010
Palmer Lake Historical Society Tour Open House. Around 750 guests tour Estemere—WOW!
Appendix V
Estemere Water Payments to the Town of Palmer Lake
By Daniel Edwards
[Note: According to Sabin, page 96, Eben Smith agreed to furnish new six-inch iron pipe in 1899 if the town would sign a contract to extend the water line to Estamere and furnish him with free water until the costs of the pipe should be met. The pipe cost $1,300, and the water rental was $100, so for 13 years, Estamere was not charged for water.]
Year Account Amount
1913 Eben Smith Estate $100
1914 Eben Smith Estate “Estamere” $100
1915 “Estamere” Estate, Emily L. Smith $100
1916 John Ewing for Estemere (note change in spelling!) $100
1917-1920 John A. Ewing, “Estemere” $100
1924 Estemere John E. Ewing, 1st National Bank Bldg
1925 John A. Ewing for Estemere $100
1926 Estemere Estate $100
01 May 1925 to 01 May 1926 $100
01 May 1926 to 01 May 1927 $100
01 May 1927 Set aside for Summer School
01 May 1933 to 01 Nov 1933 Paid by labor $9.00
1934 Estemere by [R.S.] Niswanger $9.00
1938 Mr. C. Vessey, B.M. Joy
1940 C.I. Vessey $27.50
1943 C.I. Vessey $27.50
1943 C.I. Vessey (for sign posted in Town limits) $1.00
1944 C.I. Vessey $23.75
Note the spelling of Estamere changes to “Estemere” in the town records in 1916.
Appendix VI
When did Palmer Lake first get electricity?
By Daniel Edwards
On 04 Sept 1928, Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) notified the town that it would apply to the Board of Trustees of Palmer Lake for passage of an ordinance granting CUC the right to construct, maintain, and operate an electric light and power plant and the right to transmit and sell electric energy to the town. The Council proposed Ordinance 116 granting such authority and specifying the commercial and residential rates CUC could charge. This franchise would be in effect for 25 years, conditioned upon the delivery by CUC of electricity during 24 hours of each day on or before July 1, 1929. The ordinance was officially adopted by the Council on 02 Oct. 1928.
It is important to note that this was a municipal franchise, not an effort by a couple of people to put in their own private generator for electricity, and there is no further mention in 1928 or 1929 town records of this firm; no bills were received or payments made for electricity by the town in 1928 or 1929. Obviously, CUC never carried out its proposal, did not furnish electricity by 01 July 1929, and hence forfeited its franchise. I would guess that with the onset of the Depression, CUC might have gone bankrupt in 1929 before it could wire the town, or it was unable to secure the necessary financing to do so. However, I am sure that because Commonwealth Utilities was granted a franchise by the town in 1928, others, years later, assumed that the company had indeed provided electricity to Palmer Lake that year. Yes, Commonwealth got a franchise in 1928, but it never took any action to electrify Palmer Lake. It is like a guy getting a fishing license, but he never goes fishing and then his license expires!
Now on 23 October 1931, we find a copy of a “notice of intention” published in a Colorado Springs newspaper. It stated that Dwight Chapin, Jr. would apply to the Board of Trustees of the town of Palmer Lake for an electric light, heat, and power franchise at the next regular board meeting on 03 November. The Board granted Chapin his franchise at that meeting via Ordinance 121. Now, if Palmer Lake already had electricity in 1931, obviously Chapin would not have applied as he did, and the Board would not have granted him a franchise to provide electricity.
Chapin began work in spring of 1932. On 05 July, the Council approved his bill for starting to wire the town hall; in August, it approved another Chapin bill for street lights and further work in the Town Hall. Again, there would have been no need to wire the Town Hall a second time if CUC had done so in 1928. In September 1932, Chapin asked the town to pay its monthly bill for city street lighting by sending checks (issuing “warrants”) to the Newton Lumber & Manufacturing Co. of Colorado Springs. Perhaps Newton had bought out Chapin or was his collection agent. The monthly town electric bill then was $48.00, and the town had not paid anyone for the use of electricity before the summer of 1932. The town paid Newton $48.00 a month for electricity for the rest of 1932. In Sept. 1933, the town began to pay another firm, Mountain Utilities Co., $50.70 to provide electricity to the Town Hall and the street lights.
Further evidence supporting the 1932 date comes from Palmer Lake news published in the Colorado Springs Gazette. There is no mention of electricity in the town in its columns from 1928 to 1931. In the 02 July 1932 Palmer Lake column, however, it states that “electric lights were connected this week.” In May of 1933, there were references to some houses in Palmer Lake getting electricity, a new development worth noting in the paper. There is no specific mention of Estemere, but I suspect it too was wired for electricity in 1933. Electric lights were installed in the Glen Park auditorium in June of 1934. All this demonstrates to my satisfaction that it was in 1932, not 1928, when electric lights were
first turned on in Palmer Lake.
Thanks for reading. Ya’ll
come again soon!
* * *
[1] “Banquet at Palmer Lake,” Rocky Mountain News, 12 March 1889. This article describes a meeting and dinner at Estamere House to which Thompson, newly elected mayor of Palmer Lake, invited members of the town council and others.
[2] “Wilson & Judd”: Finley Thompson’s 1884 booklet on Palmer Lake refers to a “well-kept eating house” beside the railroad station. Sabin says that this structure was built by John L. Judd on land leased from the D&RG. However, the first proprietor of this eating house was not Judd but Edward F. Clark. In 1888, O.E. Phinney became the manager. For a time in the 1890s the G.G. Russells operated the restaurant. Judd, born in Vermont in 1855, was at Palmer Lake during this period. He was elected mayor of the town in 1890. Perhaps he signed the lease for the land but hired others to run the restaurant. Judd appeared in a business directory as manager of the D&RG depot hotel from 1899 (by this time, the “eating house” had expanded to become a hotel) to 1914, after which time his wife, Annie, ran the establishment for a few years.
An 1880s Victorian Mansion in the Colorado Rockies: The Estemere Estate at Palmer Lake Page 30