The History of the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House
(Compiled 2005)
It all began with STRATTON PARK in COLORADO SPRINGS
Winfield Scott Stratton, a millionaire Colorado miner and philanthropist, died in 1902. He came to Colorado Springs in 1869 from Indiana. He tried his hand at carpentry and prospecting and in 1901 made claim to the Independence Mine in Cripple Creek, CO. This venture, plus investment in four other prospective mines, netted him millions. He contributed much of his fortune to civic projects in Colorado Springs including the development of 20 acres of land named Cheyenne Park by him but later known as Stratton Park in his honor for use by summer tourists and the residents of the city. The Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House was developed in 1966 on half of this parkland. It will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2006.
The first man to settle in the Cheyenne Canon area on which the Chapter House was built was William F. Dixon, who claimed the land in 1862. He built a cabin and attempted to farm and raise cattle. He built irrigation ditches and planted some apple trees. He sold 20 acres of the land to Winfield Scott Stratton in 1900. After Dixon's death in 1907, the remainder of the ranch changed owners a time or two and eventually ended up belonging to Spencer Penrose, who developed the Broadmoor Hotel and built his own home, El Pomar, on the Dixon homestead.
Prior to Stratton's purchase of the 20 acres from William Dixon for $40,000 for Stratton Park, the land on which the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House now stands was known as Dixon's pasture. It was an area of scrub oak, chokecherry trees, wildlife, wildflowers, grassy hills, and the clear water of Cheyenne Creek rushing over the rocks and boulders in more than just a trickle.
Stratton oversaw the early development of Stratton Park. He'd be spotted in the area in a two-seated surrey pulled by one black horse and one white. The first bit of construction was a 30-foot rustic arched bridge across one of the low places on the hillside to connect two ends of the footpath. Smaller bridges were later placed along the small streams forged by natural streams. He also supervised construction of the rock wall along each side of the creek along the entire 20 acres.
Winfield Scott Stratton bought the old street railway system in August of 1900 and expanded it. A line was extended to a terminal loop designed to transport people to the park, Seven Falls, and the Beer Garden. This area was very popular among students and professors of the Colorado College.
Stratton Park began its popular career on June 6, 1901, when it was dedicated. Stratton was not among the 4,000 people who attended as the world's richest miner detested public appearances and notoriety. He got satisfaction enough in providing this lovely place for those residing or visiting Colorado Springs.
Every Sunday the Colorado Midland Band played a concert on the bandstand in Stratton Park. Between 5,000 and 10,000 people visited the park on summer weekends. At the dedication of the park on June 6, 1901, John Phillip Sousa conducted his band on the bandstand.
Back to the topThere were elaborate gardens, carriage trails, playground equipment, some rides for kids and grown-ups, fishing and swimming ponds, picnic pavilions, benches for relaxation, shuffleboard courts, and a baseball field. Winfield Scott Stratton, founder of the park, pledged $5,000 a year for park maintenance, $4,000 for Colorado Midland Band concerts every summer Sunday, and $4,000 a year for dance music. He died only two months after the park was completed and opened in June of 1902.
The trolley serving the park began going into decline after 1911 when automobiles started becoming widespread. The system was replaced with buses in 1932. The park, except for a 10-acre portion of the beautiful acreage purchased and designated for the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House, was sold in 1932 to Pierce Hampe, a real estate magnate who developed the property as an upscale residential area.
Then came the COLORADO P.E.O. CHAPTER HOUSE
The idea for a P.E.O. home in Colorado was first presented as a suitable use for $658.88 in excess funds generated by P.E.O. Day at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904. Members of the 1907 Convention of Colorado Grand Chapter approved a resolution to be presented at the 1907 Convention of Supreme Grand Chapter suggesting that a P.E.O. home be established in Colorado. This Colorado resolution was defeated at that time, however.
The 1948 Convention of Colorado State Chapter voted to transfer $500 from the General Fund to the Colorado Foundation Fund. A board of three past presidents of Colorado State Chapter was appointed to administer the fund. At the end of that convention, the fund had grown to $1,535 and pledges amounting to $11,000 were received. By 1949 the fund totaled $12,655.
On July 22, 1949, a Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Colorado Secretary of State naming all Colorado P.E.O. chapter members as members of the Colorado Foundation Fund of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. A five-member board of trustees was established to administer the corporation; at least one member was to be a past state president of Colorado State Chapter.
The 1956 Convention of Colorado State Chapter adopted the recommendation of the board of trustees that each chapter contribute one dollar per capita annually to the fund, and by 1963 the fund had reached $180,000.
In 1964 the board of trustees received approval to proceed with plans for a P.E.O. Chapter House. A total of 30 properties were considered in Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins. Some homes and properties were offered as gifts. The trustees purchased a five-acre tract in Fort Collins for $10,000. On January 24, 1965, the board of trustees received a letter from the attorney for the Stratton Home Estates trustees offering to sell 8.84 acres on Cheyenne Avenue in Colorado Springs, known as the Stratton Park, to the corporation for $65,000. The proposal required the Stratton home Trustees' approval of the architectural design for any structure built on the site, that the property not be subdivided, and that the landscape be altered as little as possible.
Back to the topA resolution to change the name of the corporation from "Colorado Foundation Fund of P.E.O. Sisterhood" to "Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House, Inc." was approved at the 1965 Convention of Colorado State Chapter. A groundbreaking ceremony was held February 6, 1966, attended by 140 guests, including representatives of 36 chapters. Mrs. Earl Russell of Pueblo, president of Colorado State Chapter, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony. Mrs. Ralph Monell of Canon City, chairman of the Board of Trustees, turned the first shovel full of earth for the building. At that time, there were 166 local chapters and more than 7,000 members of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in Colorado.
The architect selected for the project was Mr. Claude Nash of Denver and Godwin-Bevers of Colorado Springs the contractor. More than 400 P.E.O.s and guests were present at the dedication on October 23, 1966. At that ceremony Mr. Nash presented gold keys to Mary Bischof of Chapter CE in Colorado Springs who was President of Colorado State Chapter so "she would never be locked out."
General facilities were planned for 60 residents, and long-range plans included ground level single apartments for 60 persons in 10 cottages. The initial construction provided for three units of six apartments each. Mrs. Monell stated that the Chapter House was "to be a home for gracious living."
The existing Stratton Park dance pavilion was incorporated into the new facility by converting it to a kitchen, living room, dining room, and library of the Chapter House. The stone wall just outside the dining room doors was the bandstand.
The Chapter House was annexed by the City of Colorado Springs in 1968. The mortgage was burned at the 1980 Convention of Colorado State Chapter in Pueblo. Annual per capita dues for the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House were raised to two dollars.
The natural beauty of the area provides a peaceful setting for this facility. More than 70 P.E.O.s from throughout Colorado and other states have lived in the house - some for a few months and others for more than 20 years.
The thirtieth anniversary of the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House was celebrated in 1996. P.E.O. sisters and guests participated in Open Houses at the Chapter House during the Conventions of Colorado State Chapter in Colorado Springs in 1995 and in 2004.
In preparation for the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House's fortieth anniversary in 2006, the Chapter House Board of Trustees in 2004 approved the modification of smaller apartments into larger rooms. Four of these were completed in June of 2005 as one-bedroom apartments. In 2006 three of the smaller apartments were converted into two expanded suites. At present, five studios, two expanded suites, and five one-bedroom apartments comprise the home. Two suites are available, also, one with a queen bed and one with twin beds, for guests of residents or P.E.O.s and their families or traveling companions. At the 2005 Convention of Colorado State Chapter, delegates approved a proposal to open the Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House to women not P.E.O.s who are sponsored by P.E.O.s and to P.E.O.s and their husbands (B.I.L.s).
Philanthropy and education are two structural patterns that have been a part of P.E.O. since its beginning. The Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House is a good example of both of these patterns. It is a place where one finds "Sisters Caring for Sisters" and educational programs that continue to benefit all.
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