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Unique Institution Provided for by Winfield Scott Stratton Caring for 20 Aged Residents of Fl Paso County Second Unit Will Be Started at Once--Buildings Located on 1,000-Acre ‘tract in Beautiful Broadmoor INFIELD SCOTT STRATTON has left a memorial to his name and philanthrophy that will forever be an institution of which Colorado Springs and the entire state of Colorado can well be proud. On December 18, 1913 11 years after the death of the millionaire mining man—the first occu t of the Myron Stratton home took up their residence in Village and one of the most unique philanthropic ventures istory became a reality. the buildings of the first unit, the cottages of which are now pied, stand on a tract of 1,000 acres in Broadmoor, beauti located and admirably suited for such a home. The total of these buildings was $210,000. Already 10 cottages, two stories and the superintendent’s home have been corn and about 20 aged people have taken up their residence cottages. The dormitories will be completed in time spr ing this spring. These dormitories will accommodate about us and 35 girls, the majority of which will come from El county. The will of W. 8. Stratton provided that Kil Paso le will be given preference in the selection, although text from other sections in the state will be admitted if there is 1 and the entrance requirements can be met. , second unit of the home which insist of an administration build- 416 cottages will be started this and the plans have already been ed by the trustees who will ask do soon. administration building of this unit will have a number of res, included in which will be a room, model kitchen, laundry Feembly regim. the faithful trustees, who through are untangled the skein of the on the left, to a wide semicircle on which are located five houses for girls —20 girls, a matron, assistant matron, and cook to each family. Each house stands in its own private grounds of approximately 250 by 200+fest s giving ample apace for flowers, lawn and play, while at one side and in the rear, io a large general playx,wand, where games between the “families” may be played. “As we ranch the last house, we turn at a sheep angle and find the advotie children’s and nurses’ buildings with the hospital and inframy widely sep arated. A central house with adjoin ing dormitories for the infirm aged, and then a crottered beside and beyond the lake three and four-roomed cottages for the aged who are able to care for themsdves The site covers one mile by three-fourths of a mile, and the scheme contemplates not an institti on, but an industrial village, where all who can will contribute to the gen eral welfare and upkeep of ‘the whole “For the young, ,raining in’ the trades and domestic science, with spe cial leaning to all the industries con nected with farming, will be the gov erning Principle of the education given.' It is Intended to have scientific farming, and the means of education, and of healthy, happy looy and girl hood conferred by over 1,000 acres of irrigated land and as much more of pasture is Incatenable I could write pages of possibilities—but have al ready trespassed too much on your pa tience, so will content myn? by saying that it is the fixed purpose of the trustees to give the aged homes as wear Uhe their own if Inning on a small in come, as is is possible to be, and for the young to start out into the world honest, healthy, happy, capable, nor mal and common sense young men and women, SUPERINTENDENT IS EXPERIENCED MAN .Here we may mention that the trus tees, carrying out their uniform policy of seeking the best, have been for tunate to secure as superintendent of ‘the home, Mr. H. W. Cowan, under us’ HORNE ehtures of tha met. ire and put the chafe upon @ Pr ls and 6 pern “nent one, must ch credit, To theta must «lv: © credit for pl=syaing out the as it is now and will be, To ute such # home for all clans uple and build it g.dvelly, sup! ‘ir and look after the eves of occupants is work that even the expert nodiologist would consider’ uli The home is unique, prac will have the homelike atmoe and promises to take its place In paited States among similar, th ree Edward Barton designed the for the home and Meurice D. Bis- Eye --* glove and little lake This is beautifully situated on @ promontory jutting out into and overlooking the live cake grove and jittle eke. From it, back to the girls’ houses, can be risen the superintendent's cottage on the highest point In the entire site. BOVE AND GIRLS IN SEPARATE QUARTERS “Processing, so coma to the girls’ schools, and we find ourselves on a wide circle, surrounded by these girls schoola, library, museum, assembly hall, and boys’ schools and common hell—then, from the far side of this circle, we come too long over fur' whose management and care the Colo rado State Home for Dependent and Neglected Children has been built up. Mr. Cowans experience is proving of the greatest value in planning the in terior enhancements of the homes furnishings, etc Al’ to 6-inch cast iron pipe line ex tension of the water system to the, home site, a distance of over ten miles, Was completed at a cost of £ 20,000. This insures an abundant supply of water. The first ucit of Duldings construct ‘ed consists of two dormitories, 10 cot tages and the superintendent's build ing. The architecture in colonial and mission combined, and all buildings 7 Denver is the architect of the ngs. The first contract for con~ jon was let to J. J. Cooke last lars. Calling for an expenditure of 00 ‘ SERIPTION BY WM. lyo. SECRETARY a following description of the’ and its buildings was prepared, Wiliam Lloyd, secretary to the of trustees, and is comprehensive @ scope of the underthing: ‘6 enter the main gate 40d find venue aiproacheas the vilage by rounded By 12 houses for boys, built on the same plan as the girls’) but as in the cape of the girls’, each with a different exterior, while tonforming to the one architectural scheme. “Each of these boys’ houses has its own private gounds, while the center is occupied by a common playground where baseball matches, etc. between the “families may be played and a “house” spirit engendered This spirit it will be our endeavor to foster in all wrancher, educational and farming, as well as in play. “Beyond and bealde these Inuldinegs are the farms, with dairy, stort houses, @ of a running brook—this brook |! ges its course until] It enters |: pond surrounded by a siove of |i a, and thence cntinues on ra sterpm and pond were a wat division of the grounds, whish is taken advantage of to place uny people on the one side and face and aged on the other being up the asenne we cor AW SPA sae RAHIVE. We barns, etc. giving ¢azy access for our young people the girls to the dairies, the boys in the other farm work Here also is situated the power and heating plant, WILL EDUCATE THE YOUNGER OCCUPANTS Returning now to the main entrance we have onsdhe eght infanta seo ‘are designed for permanency and sim ple beauty. Each dormitory is built for 20 persons The one for the hoya] has been named ‘Independence’ and the one for the girls “Washington ’ the names of the two nining claima that, Mr Stratton staked on July 4, 1851 from which his great fortune spraine The cottages eonest of Hving room bedroom so dining roam and kitchen These houses are built of unintered concrete The hilidines of the second unit will be equally well constricted . Realising that the most unhappy people in the world are those who find that they have nothing to do the trus tees area planning to give all residents! Ught employment hu are able phy Calls The elders men will be pro vided with seeds garden duats cure peniers fools ete o so that thes may make tein own “lower beds at dittte things that may boo needas RESIDENTS WILL BE KEPT EMPLOYED The bos will wok in the farm and] he instructed ino mean real employiments There will be instrint rs on carpentri ft brink lavitip flanking mechanics type setting oto the the Seng Cooking domesty scenee useful trades and occupations 1 te girls fees heleved that um hoe? the feud fir the tates will be grown oon the farm and all the teetid oof the onetitation( WEN be fowsrd the otliffation of its ‘OWN resources AM) intracting of hove l and girls for deing the fullest part of the world’s labet at which they are capable the care and direction being as! Much as possible toward self-support of the alder detime of the struggle for existence. For a mode of the achnol for boys, the trustees had visited the Williameon institution near Philadelphia along with Girard college and others The wick for the guhsistate meal elect in the MAR from the Itsten Training School for (this every good point in each school visited has been noted.) At Williamaon, the busy are making and laying brick doing carpen try work, learning while doing and in the end builying their own homes. The Btration institution will be expect ed to grow through the sears largely In this way, subsequent note being added by the boys who are fitting themselves for trades in which they Can earn their own way through fire after the school and its guarding hens, no longer atends @ necesmis GREAT PORTUNE LEFT TO FOUND HOME The foundation for this great be nevolence was laid in the will of Win field Scott Btratton, who died in this city on September 14, 1902 leaving an estate that a new valued at from $8,000,000 to $8,000,000 41 inheritance tax of $240,000 was paid upon it to the state of Colorado and its value is greater today .That the estate has been mainntained Intot and that the bequest has been fulfilled to its pres ent positions due to the steadfnst ness and courage of the three trustees bamed by Mr. Stratton himself, Dr. David H Rive and Wiliam Lennor of this city and Tyson 8 Osnen of Denver. The long and willing legal contests and other hindrances to the execution of the will occupy an unus ual place in the history of will cases in this land. It is nearly all past his tory now. Because the atthe may come into the hands of some who do not know the story a bref outtine of this history of Mr. Stratton and the estate is here appended Winfield S. Stratton as born at Jeffersonville, Indy one. July 16,84% and was the son of Myron Stratton, a carpenter and boat builder He was apprenticed to his father’s trade and at the age of 84 came west to the new town of Colorado Springs where hhey worked at his trade. He became in Interested in mining, as did many active young men who moved west at that time. He tried it in Park county and Tater in the San Juan country but for 20 years with little success [in 1884 he took a course in assaying and mine erology at Colorado college STRATTON FORTUNE CAME RAPIDLY When in the spring of Us news of gold find at Cripple Creek reached this city Mr Stratton went early on the scene but it was not until July that he staked the Washington and Independence claims on Wilson crech His wealth came suddenly and he was able to hold his property alone, as no few poor prospectors who make a rich whike are able to de By May of the ‘Year’80e Mr. Straffon had taken about two and a half millions from the mine and had developed it so that it showed immense values still in the ground. Then he sold to the Venture corpora tion of Jonten for $10000000 cash Although one of the moat xé@aerous and fairest of men in busines trans sections Mr Stratton had hard, cote” into any considerable wealth before he was assailed with lawsuits on the part of thoes who hoped to attract bene of lat to themselves Tf gay unetinteds “Sight end let but also te fer nbt where he thought himaself unjustly it lacked of a temperamettal the emervous and never very strong, thens Rings wor ried him and undoubtedly hortened his life. Upon tuk return from Europe after gelling the mine “St Stratton began making free insvegtinaits Helunghe a Dugé tract of mining claims in the heart of Copple Creek for $7,000 000, he bought real estate din Tener and at Colorado Spring ® and at last tools over the Colorado Sprinigea Rapid Trin. hit atreet cal s.atem began recon structing it and founded Strattangeerk This gook up $2000 000 more of his capital These were not by payin investments although broad, planned as his trusters quickly reacued when they began to confer ¢ the estate Mr Stratton had advanced views gnt the possession of great wealth and repeatedly expressed the opinion that he considered himself a trustes of providence for the people In the last few weeks of his life he reade the will which gave the bulk of his property the founding home for aged people, to be named after his father, Myron Stratton Although proved perfectly legal the bequeat saa somewhat in definite and the trustees have had to exercise a wide discretion in planning for the great work. Tiardly was Mr Stratton in his grave when legal attacks began againet its estate, starting with an attempt to break the win by his only pen, his 99 seate the corner of seventeenth and Welton streets under 99 vertrs lease the Coronado badiduigy at Tal teenth and Stout streets, the Brown Palace hotel and other holdings not asl well known. At Colorado Springs as the corner of uerfuno street and Nevada Avenue, at Pikes Peak and Tejon affect how being improved UKi Mining exchange building, the wornrt of Klowsa and Nevada, where the old court house stands, and miscellanesan properties, The Colorado Springs and them for the world-old struggle. The comprehensive scheme for the Poston of the home care as the repube fan hatuly on the part of the aDort Mileorge Edward Baron and the bastess The industrial val lagy it the Vistan Stratton home to to be far different Than one would imag ine TL wal not be a COMpart group of building for one class atl people, or the Lathe fielding The home is to be for all Classes and will be different from anything on this continent and Not necessary to go into detail of all this maze of court procedure at this time Suffice that the trustees have cleaned up more than $22,000,000 to : slums, real and fictitious, brought in] ihia Way against the estate In the 11] years that Love paused ESTATE WAS LEFT IN CHAOTIC CONDITION Mer Stratton died in the midst of great plans and his estate wan in al lweet a chaotic condition, no that the Interurban Railway company proper ties are alll retained in the estate, as is also much of the mining property in Cripple Creek Mr Stratton had designated that El Paso county should be the site of the home, and in Au gust, 1908, the trusteen took over the Broadmoor company holdies for $350 - 000. The estate now owns . Continuous stretch of valuable land from Chey enne canon to the end of the home tract, about $000 acre. In addition ,the estate has valuable holdings in probably in Europa It 15 designed to care for all ages and sexes Therefore, the boys must be kept separate from the girls—the wnfants from the older children, and the aged from all other inmates. Yet, for purposes of administration, they cannot in widely separated ‘The trus tees have ached this problem by plan ning an industrial vilage-- then a voli tion of continued thought and study imparted to Mr Barton, are admir ably elaborated and placed on paper Inboy of working out the holdings to a pent where they would prade-= an income sufficient to pay charges and prepare for the building of Stratton home has been even greater than fighting to maintain the bulk of the property Although the trustees have been criicised for not moving more rapidly in preparing the home the pub lic is beginning to have an appreciai on of the fact that they were how ing to be safe and straight course The properties are well placed and beginning to have a real value with sufficient income to carry on the work | dlung Lignex Among the Denver holdings ig the land of which stands the First Ne tenabank Block which 1 leased for Portland Geldinlag Wheat the =_ Iv__ evigéicies of the future have In state Yor theis g vat properties does not matter here. The thing that the public is eeured of is that they are In the hands of thed, safe moon, who will Manvage them as they have in the past with omé single high aim, viz' to carry out the desire of the founder of the fortune and pro vide a safe haven for the aged and poor and give unfortunate children an education and training that will fit, ty him to his “preliminary oy called August, 1911. This report having ta «a9~yd in [ite entirety by the trustear, Mr. Ba.l. WAE proceeding to definitely p’ for when struck down by his suit un fortunate lines The truatem we 2, hoping @ spéed) recovery, but co “tm that each could not be ease to cat around for a successor. This they were fortunate enough to find in Mr Maurice BR. Biscoe, Mr. Barton's Den ver associate architect WARHINGTON HALL, THE GIRLS’ DORMITORY Beth dormitories of the ikwt group . We U7ted after the mines that W. 8. Stratton discovered They will be every Tornisted with the woit todas fie in auch institutions. COTTAGE GROUP OF FIRST UNIT There are 10 of theses cottages for aged couples in the first unit. The second unit will have 15 cottages for groups in oF women Sis TYPICAL STRAION HOME CO 1 AGE “he cottages follow a pressing and harmonious style of architecture All ‘aide porches and from four to seven rooms each. They are built of con and are absolutely fireproof. ie RESIDENCE OF SUPERINTENDENT H. W. COWAN This handsome building crowns the highest poletn the village. It is now temporarily Uld for an admin building, but the second unit will include # structure for this purpose. whaten x at Hh By INDEPENDIMNCE MALL, THE GBN.__AL BUILDING 0. THE Fi..01 GROUP Tha building to the deegetry Cr tle boa gt Wt BoETT Bete op Hot. It wilh beap :
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Gazette
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Sun, Feb 22, 1914
Page 69
Full Page
Clipped by
Kimberly P.
USA 26 Jul 2026
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