Pueblo Colorado

Rosemount Museum

Spirits here enjoy their memories, offering benign paranormal activity.

DESCRIPTION

The 37 room Rosemount Mansion was built in 1893 for John A. and Margaret Thatcher, who commissioned well-known New York architect Henry Hudson Holly to do the job. Named after Margaret’s favorite flower, the mansion became the beloved family home for 75 years. This impressive construction project cost the Thatchers $60,750.00, which was quite a chunk of change! But if you divide $60,750.00 by the 75 years of family use, the price of the house works out to be 800 dollars a year in the long run.

The Thatchers got a lot for their investment. It is no wonder that the 24,000 sq. ft. three-story mansion is called “Colorado’s Crown Jewel,” or referred to as a “Castle”, for it showcases the “Grandeur of a bygone era.” It was built with Castle Rock, Colorado pink volcanic stone in a Richardsonian Romanesque style. Inside, exquisite woodwork made from oak, cherry, maple and mahogany, can be seen. The entrance hall is constructed with impressive golden oak wood and has a coffered ceiling from which hangs the largest of the mansion’s Tiffany chandeliers. A dramatic oak staircase connects all floors.

A particularly beautiful and touching work of art is the “exquisite” 9 x 13 foot stained glass window created by New York artist Charles Booth, entitled “Kingdoms of Nature”, as a memorial to two of the Thatchers’ five children. Lenore passed away at 13 years in 1890, and Albert died at 3 years from unknown causes in 1877, before the mansion was built.

Margaret Thatcher had excellent taste. She chose all the furniture, wall and window treatments, and all of the 26 Persian, Turkish and Oriental hand-woven area rugs found throughout the mansion. John and Margaret collected art from all their travels, including a real Egyptian mummy, which is currently in the McClelland Collection of World Curiosities in Pueblo.

The huge front and back lawn and garden areas provided plenty of room for a family to play and enjoy each others’ company.

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HISTORY

John Thatcher is an example of how it is possible to achieve the American dream through hard work, perseverance, and making good use of talents and gifts endowed from the Lord. He moved to Colorado from Pennsylvania, as a young man and settled in Denver, working as a school teacher, a tannery worker, and a clerk until he had saved enough money to open his own general store in Pueblo in 1863. Two years later his younger brother, Mahlon joined him. In 1871, John and Mahlon had the funds to open another ambitious venture, The First National Bank of Pueblo. This was just the first of many ventures which paid off for John, who had the good sense to recognize the economical potential of business projects, knew how to grow them, and reaped the financial benefits.

Margaret Thatcher moved with her father and stepmother from Wisconsin to Pueblo in 1859. At the age of 16, she became Pueblo’s first public school teacher, in 1864. In 1866, she met John, the love of her life. They were married when she was 18. She traded her teaching career for motherhood and helping in John’s business efforts. They had five children. Their first, Lenore arrived in 1867. Her sister Lillian followed in 1870. Little brother John H. Jr. made his appearance in 1872. Albert R. popped out in 1874, but tragically died just three years later. The last of their brood, Raymond made his appearance 11 years later in 1885, probably a bonus baby but still welcomed with open arms. Tragedy struck again when their eldest, Lenore, died in 1890.

While the Thatcher family enjoyed living life and were prominent members of the elite class in Pueblo, John and Margaret managed their money well, raised their children with down to earth values, had big hearts, and made many charitable contributions anonymously.

After Margaret died in 1922, various members of the Thatcher family lived in Rosemount throughout the years. When the last of the children, Raymond, died in 1968, family descendants sold/gave the mansion and its grounds to a non-profit organization, the Rosemount Museum, which has kept the grounds and mansion in tip-top shape through memberships, running a gift shop and a restaurant, The Carriage House at Rosemount. The tours offered to the public are reasonable in price.

So, the visitor can have lunch at The Carriage House and then take the Rosemount Tour, an attractive package for organized outings and independent travelers, which also brings in money to support the Rosemount Museum. This is a good business plan that John Thatcher would heartily approve of.

MANIFESTATIONS

Unknown Entities Inside Rosemount

No one knows their identities, but they could be some of the old family members, servants, or anyone else who was connected to the mansion.

The living report hearing footsteps going down the many hallways of Rosemount when no one living is present. These entities are going about their business at hand.

General Activity

Unexplained noises have been heard all over the estate. The living catch glimpses of movement out of the corners of their eye, perhaps of shadows, weird lights, and maybe even apparitions.

Entities don’t appear in plain view perhaps because it would be rude to scare the very people who are helping to keep Rosemount Museum in fine shape.

STILL HAUNTED?

Yes Indeed, by well-mannered, thoughtful entities who don’t want the attention of the living and just enjoy residing in the cherished family home. The Thatchers must have been lovely people to work for. Perhaps some loyal servant isn’t going to let death get in the way of doing their job!

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