Hiwan Homestead - Evergreen's Historic Mountain Masterpiece Mountain-Ear - 7/17/08 by Pam North Summer is the perfect time for short-distance daytrips, and one destination worth a long, leisurely visit is Hiwan Homestead, located in the mountain community of Evergreen. This picturesque 17-room home, with its unique log construction, earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and a tour of it is a journey back in time. Its history is a focus on family and pioneer life. Mary Neosho Williams and her daughter, Josepha, moved westward to Denver after Mary's brigadier general husband was killed in the Civil War. Josepha enrolled in Denver's Gross Medical School, eventually graduating in 1889 to become one of Colorado's first women doctors. Like many Denver residents, the two ladies enjoyed trips to the nearby Rocky Mountains to escape urban living, and on one such getaway in the 1880s, they discovered an enchanting valley, complete with a small log building, near their campsite in the Evergreen area. They purchased the property, christening it Camp Neosho after Mary's middle name. They hired a local master carpenter and stone mason, John "Jock" Spence to assist them in creating a home. Spence would remain a trusted worker for Mrs. Williams (and later for Josepha and the Episcopalian deacon, Charles Winfred Douglas, whom she later married) for much of the rest of his life, and he would leave his indelible stamp there. The log structure was remodeled by removing ceiling and wall partitions to create a spacious main room. Spence then added an octagonal two-story tower, and a shed-type structure at the rear to function as a kitchen and also a dining room for the servants. Great effort was expended to protect the trees surrounding the house; later additions were designed to allow the trees to continue growing through openings in the roof (conservation of natural resources extends back to pioneer days). The completed initial building was a harmonious combination of simplicity and rustic elegance -- hand-adzed logs chinked with a mountain formula of mud, sand and honey; natural materials contributing to a cozy, nurturing atmosphere perfectly suited to a family residence. The lower half of the walls featured an unusual vertical wainscoting, and Spence hand-crafted a signature stairstep design over the home's doors and windows; its repetition throughout the house became his trademark, setting the theme of mountain lodge and Indian elements that were reflected still further in the furnishings. Spence added other distinctive elements as well: rough lumber combined with carved, finished wood; custom touches such as built-in bookshelves with movable shelves (innovative in that time period), and a beautiful ceiling of radiating beams in the upstairs bedroom of the octagonal tower. Mrs. Williams and Josepha were well-off financially, allowing them the freedom to further develop their property. House tents with wood floors, wood-burning stoves, double canvas walls and comfortable furniture were constructed in an adjoining area, providing overnight accommodations for visiting family and friends. After Josepha's marriage to Charles Douglas in 1896, a son, Eric, was born, and a small stone house (now referred to as "Eric's House")" was constructed for him to stay in with his nurse during the family's mountain visits. Mrs. Williams died in 1914, and the Douglases moved to Camp Neosho. They built an addition, and again Spence added his special signature touches: window seats with storage beneath, built-in bookcases and a hutch, storm windows and a notch in the window wall to provide space for a growing ponderosa pine. In the dining room, the adjustable ceiling light's shade was a Jicarilla Apache basket turned upside-down. Spence continued to work on the house; a second octagonal tower with a an upper-floor chapel was added, along with bedrooms, a kitchen and butler's pantry, a built-in ice box, and a superb staircase of quarter logs set into a diagonal stringer made up of an entire tree (an especially impressive feat since the tricky inset work was accomplished with only simple hand tools. An additional small structure (called the "Stone House") was built in the early 1930s as a playhouse for the three Douglas children; it, too, reflects Spence's trademark slanted rock slabs and stair-step patterns, and wooden eaves adorned with an Indian symbol representing mountains. Two other structures exist on the grounds: the Pioneer Workshop, and the Housekeeper's Cabin; one of the latter's rooms has a current exhibit that recreates a circa-1895 general store. Josepha died in 1938, and afterward the house was purchased by the Darst E. Buchanan family, who then named the home Hiwan (an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "a high secluded place with enough land for one ox to plow." Eventually the property was acquired through Jefferson County Open Space funds and received its historical designation; the facility is presently operated through a partnership of Jefferson County Open Space and the Jefferson County Historical Society.. Hiwan Homestead presently functions as a museum offering tours, active craft and interpretive school programs, and changing exhibitions. Its restored 1890-1930-era rooms illustrate a comfortable style of early mountain summer-home living. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to 5:00 p.m. September through May, and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. June through August. Additional information may be obtained at Hiwan Homestead's website: www.jeffco.us/openspace/openspace, or by calling (720)497-7650. The museum is located at Meadow Drive and Timbervale; admission is free, with donations encouraged. An additional new, noteworthy exhibit at Hiwan Homestead is one entitled "Brilliant Beads: Native Beadwork of the Wild West," an impressive collection showcasing Indian beadwork from the collections of the Jefferson County Historical Society, the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on Lookout Mountain, the Humphrey Memorial Park and Museum in Evergreen, and a private collection. Pieces range from the 1800s to the contemporary, and the exhibit will run until November 23, 2008. It is well worth a visit to view this exhibit, and to absorb the rustic charm and historical significance of Hiwan Homestead, an incredible mountain gem. To round out the day, sample Evergreen's restaurants, assorted shops, or nearby scenic byways, or drive on to Kittredge and Morrison to experience their offerings for shopping and dining. The surrounding mountain terrain along the route is cool, beautiful and peaceful, and a day spent in the Evergreen area is certain to provide a pleasurable and memorable getaway. MOUNTAIN MASTERPIECE - HIWAN HOMESTEAD Gilpin Gazette-Crusader by Pam North Summer is the perfect time for daytrips, and one destination worth driving a few miles to is Hiwan Homestead. This unique 17-room log home, located in Evergreen, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique construction. Its history is equally interesting. Mary Neosho Williams and her daughter, Josepha, moved westward to Denver after Mary's brigadier general husband was killed in the Civil War. Josepha enrolled in Denver's Gross Medical School, eventually graduating in 1889 to become one of Colorado's first women doctors. Like many Denver residents, the two ladies enjoyed trips to the nearby Rocky Mountains to escape urban living, and on one such getaway in the 1880s, they discovered a peaceful valley, complete with a small log building, near their campsite in the Evergreen area. They purchased the property, christening it "Camp Neosho" after Mary's middle name. They hired a local carpenter, John "Jake" Spence to assist them in creating a home. Spence would remain a trusted worker for Mrs. Williams (and later for Josepha and the Episcopalian deacon, Charles Winfred Douglas, she married in 1896) for much of the rest of his life, and he would leave his indelible stamp there. The log structure was remodeled by removing ceiling and wall partitions to create a spacious main room. Spence then added an octagonal two-story tower, and a shed-type structure at the rear to function as a kitchen and dining room for the servants. Great effort was expended to protect the trees surrounding the house (later additions were designed to allow the trees to continue growing through the roof). The completed initial building was a unique combination of simplicity and rustic elegance - hand-adzed logs chinked with a mountain formula of mud, sand and honey. The lower half of the walls featured an unusual vertical wainscoting, and Spence incorporated a stairstep design over the home's doors and windows; its repetition throughout the house became his trademark, setting the theme of mountain lodge and Indian elements that then were carried out in the furnishings. Spence added other distinctive elements as well: rough lumber combined with carved, finished wood; custom touches such as built-in bookshelves with movable shelves (innovative in that time period), and a beautiful ceiling of radiating beams in the upstairs bedroom of the octagonal tower. Mrs. Williams and Josepha were well-off, allowing them the freedom to further develop their property. House tents with wood floors, wood-burning stoves, double canvas walls and comfortable furniture were constructed in an adjoining area, providing overnight accomodations for visiting family and friends. After Josepha's 1896 marriage to Douglas, a son was born, and a small stone "Baby House" was constructed for him to stay in with his nurse during the family's mountain visits. Mrs. Williams died in 1914, and the Douglases moved to Camp Neosho. They built an addition, and again Spence added his special touches: window seats with storage beneath; built-in bookcases and a hutch; storm windows and a notch in the window wall to provide space for a growing ponderosa tree. In the dining room, the adjustable ceiling light's shade was a Jicarilla Apache basket turned upside down. Spence continued to work on the house; a second octagonal tower with an upper floor chapel was added, along with bedrooms, a kitchen and butler's pantry, a built-in ice box, and a superb staircase of quarter logs set into a diagonal stringer that was an entire tree (an especially impressive feat since the tricky inset work was accomplished with only simple hand tools. Josepha died in 1938, and afterward the house was purchased by the Darst E. Buchanan family, who then named the home Hiwan (an Anglo-Saxon work meaning "a high secluded place with enough land for one ox to plow." Eventually the property was acquired through Jefferson County Open Space funds and received its historical designation. Hiwan Homestead presently functions as a museum offering tours, active craft and interpretive school programs, and changing exhibitions. Its restored 1890-1930 era rooms illustrate a comfortable style of early mountain summer home living. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. September through May, and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. June through August. It is well worth a visit to absorb the rustic charm and historical significance of this incredible mountain gem.