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Honoring Colorado Springs founder on the 100th anniversary of his death
General William Jackson Palmer
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For other information on the General check out these articles:
- The Founder of Colorado Springs, William Jackson Palmer
- The Young Years of Colorado Springs
- Tea and crumpets in Colorado Springs
- The End of an Era in Colorado Springs
Today marks the 100th anniversary of General William Jackson Palmer’s death. He died on March 13, 1909. He fell off a horse in 1906 and was paralyzed from then until his death. He wanted no fuss made about his death and his family had him cremated. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, but the town would not forget their favorite founder. They had a parade that went from Pikes Peak Ave. to the cemetery. Today, we still value his foresight on designing this beautiful city that we call home.
To honor his life, there are many activities being planned from now into next week. I hope you’ll take a look through and maybe plan on attending one or two of them. Read the rest of this entry »
The End of an Era in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs History — Palmer’s Legacy
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By 1901, with the population of Colorado Springs about 25,000, General Palmer was ready to take it easy as he entered his later years in life.
Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs – burned to the ground
In 1898, a huge fire threatened all of Colorado Springs. Read the rest of this entry »
Hidden Gems in Colorado Springs Parks, #2 Monument Valley Park
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
One of the top reasons people love living in the Pikes Peak Region is because of the open spaces and mountains. It’s paradise for a nature lover!
In the heart of Colorado Springs is Monument Valley Park, one of the town’s most treasured parks. It extends north and south, parallel to and east of I-25. It is close to many neighborhoods and homes in the central part of Colorado Springs including the Old North End, the North End, Read the rest of this entry »
Names for Colorado Springs Streets
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
An early history of Colorado Springs, part 2
We now have a new town named Colorado Springs: however, it was just a dusty landscape with little water and no homes. It would need more than Palmers vision to become a reality.
In 1870, Palmer finally got his Denver and Rio Grande Railway started. It was the north/south route he so dreamed of. He started the Mountain Base Investment Fund to build and develop the other products to go along with his railroad (ranches, lots, towns, mines etc). Read the rest of this entry »
Steele Elementary School in The Old North End of Colorado Springs
One of the first schools built in Colorado Springs
During the Gold Rush of the 1890’s many people were coming to Colorado Springs and building their homes in the Old North End. This created a problem due to a lack of schools; so in 1896 the school board bought several lots on the northwest corner of Del Norte and Weber. A building that had been used as an annex for Garfield School was 
moved onto the property and the school was called the Del Norte School. It started as a 2 room building where 43 students in first, second and third grade attended.
In 1901, due to the area’s explosive growth, bonds were issued and a eight room, 2-story brick building was built. The name was changed in memory of Benjamin Steele, the first editor of the Daily Gazette. It opened on January 28, 1901 and dedicated on February 22, 1901. Read the rest of this entry »
The Young Years of Colorado Springs
1870’s in Colorado Springs
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For other information on the General check out these articles:
- The Founder of Colorado Springs, William Jackson Palmer
- The Young Years of Colorado Springs
- Tea and crumpets in Colorado Springs
- The End of an Era in Colorado Springs
In October, 1871 Queen Palmer arrived in Colorado Springs at was to be her new home. What she found was a dusty wilderness and her new home (Glen Eyrie) was not yet finished. She never adapted very well, but she did try. She preferred indoor activities and dancing while the rest of the women that were there enjoyed hiking and
roughing it. She noticed that there was no school in the little town and decided to start one. In November of that year she started a day school for the children in the area. She lasted five weeks and realized that she wasn’t cut out to handle the everyday problems. After the Christmas break, she hired a schoolteacher at her own expense to continue the tiny school. In March of 1872, Queen Palmer would leave the area and never live there again, though she did make visits. There is even a school today named after her. She died in 1894 at age 44 in England. Her body would eventually be buried in Evergreen cemetery.
1872 also marked the first hotel in Colorado Springs. Yes, it was called the Colorado Springs Hotel and built by Read the rest of this entry »
