Month: June 2022

Congratulations to LHA President, Warren Wright!

“The City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department recently recognized Warren Wright for an annual volunteer recognition award for his many contributions to Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Warren’s passion for preserving the history of the Pikes Peak region comes through with his many hours of dedication supporting projects, programs and fundraising in his role as President of the Rock Ledge Ranch Living History Association. This award recognizes Warren’s accomplishments in his first year in this role and we look forward to our ongoing collaboration. Thank you Warren for your continued support and passion for Rock Ledge Ranch!”

-John Stark, Garden of the Gods Manager Parks, Recreation & Cultural Service

“Warren has made a tremendous impact during his short tenure as president of the Living History Association. He has such a positive, humble and can-do personality that people naturally want to get involved with things that he deems important. He is constantly talking to visitors at Rock Ledge Ranch about what a great place this is and that they should become members of the LHA and more often than not they sign a membership card. Warren is always willing to help out at the Ranch even when it isn’t one of his duties. When I related to him the need for the General Store storage area to be insulated and drywalled, Warren took it upon himself to get it done. And he did just that. So it was a very easy decision to nominate Warren Wright for an annual volunteer recognition award. Congratulations Warren!”

-Andy Morris, Ranch Manager

“John, thank you and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department for recognizing my volunteer contributions at Rock Ledge Ranch. I am very honored and humbled to receive the award this year on behalf of Rock Ledge Ranch. I thank Andy Morris, Parks Operation Administrator, for placing my name into the nomination process.

Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site volunteers are individuals who share a love for history, as well as a love for the land and the buildings upon which our history unfolded over the past centuries. It is this group of volunteers who daily make the history come “alive” to our visitors and constituents. I thank all of them for making Rock Ledge Ranch an outstanding living history museum. I am very proud to be a part of the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site.”

WALLPAPER, A QUINTESSENTIAL DECORATION OF THE ERA

The Rock Ledge House, built in 1874 by the Chambers family, may be quaint, but there is one thing in the house in abundance and that is wallpaper. When you walk into the house, you will notice wallpaper on every possible surface, including the ceilings. During the Victorian era, families could signify their wealth by having wallpaper in their homes. The more of it they could get, the better. At the time, the Chambers family must have had home décor that was to die for. However, they might not have known it could have actually harmed them.

During the Chambers era, synthetic dyes and inks were still waiting far in the future. Mrs. Chambers would have dyed her wool with plants or perhaps colored fabric with boiled beets. There was possibly another “natural” dye in the Rock Ledge House, but this one would have been deadly. A bright green color on wallpaper was newly fashionable at this time, and it was created with arsenic.

This color, sometimes called “emerald” green, “Scheele’s green”, or “Paris green” was exciting and quickly became used in wallpaper ink and on fabrics. However, people were not aware they were inhaling and or touching something dangerous every day. People began to catch onto patterns of illness and death surrounding these fabrics and papers in the late 1880s. However, that date might suggest that wallpapers before this year, such as those originally in the Rock Ledge House, might have been arseniclaced.

There is no need to worry about visiting the house now. The wallpapers in the house are replicas of the originals. A little-known fact about this house is that people chipped through decades of paint and wallpaper to recover the Chambers original wallpaper. It was then reprinted to restore the home to what you see today. We can be assured that the new wallpaper is safe, but the old wallpaper does bring up questions! The three photos with this article are of original samples. There are several samples with shades of green – beautiful but possibly deadly!

We are up and running at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site!

Our opening weekend sheep shearing event was fantastic! The weather was wonderful, and we had a super turnout and everywhere you went families were enjoying themselves. A great way to start out the season! We hope you and your family join us in celebrating Family Fourth! I am always amazed at how fast the summers fly by. Please plan to be at the Ranch as we celebrate our nation’s birthday.

Congratulations to Melissa Keown for her promotion to full-time lead interpreter. Melissa started out as a volunteer and then as part time lead interpreter. She applied for and was offered the full-time position. I am very pleased she accepted the offer.

The ADA project has been completed with all new sidewalks around the pond area and up to the barn. This was much needed, and we are happy to have easier access for all of us.

The 30th street project is set to switch the construction from north of Gateway Road to south of Gateway Road. This means that traffic will have to come from Garden of the Gods or Mesa on the north to access the Garden of the Gods or Rock Ledge Ranch. While this project has been disruptive, I have no doubt that when this project is completed, things will be much improved.

When you come out to visit, visit the General Store and check out all the wonderful and unique gifts that are for sale. Many of the items are made by Ranch employees and volunteers.

I hope that you and your families have a happy and safe summer and I look forward to seeing you at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site!

Andy Morris, Parks Operations Administrator

Hello, LHA members and supporters of Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site! Summer is just upon us and it’s good to see the ranch greening up from all the spring work around the sidewalks. If you haven’t been at the ranch in a few months, please plan a visit to check out the new, ADA compliant sidewalks. The landscaping that accompanied the sidewalks is filling in and looking beautiful.

The spring Homeschool Day was a huge success! There were over 600 children and parents in attendance. We’re investing heavily into our school and homeschool programs at the ranch. Keep up to date with schedules by visiting our website: www.rockledgeranch.com

We’re making good progress on the fundraising front. I met recently with the executive director at the Bloom Foundation to discuss the Greenhouse Project and its impact on our fall, winter and spring school programs. The director is going to spread the word to the other funding agencies that collaborate with Bloom. I hope to have many more meetings this summer.

In addition to the Bloom Foundation, the Living History Association has been accepted to participate in this year’s Give! Campaign for local charitable donations. That campaign will run from November 1 through December 31. Be watching for announcements in the fall. I am encouraged to be involved in this well established and supported program for local charities.

Please look for the updated Greenhouse Project funds “thermometer” in this issue. A big “Thank You” to all who have given so generously to this wonderful project for our extraordinary ranch! We have an amazing story to tell about the Chambers Family’s effort to thrive on this land over 140 years ago!

See you at the ranch!

Warren Wright
President