Cherokee Ranch and Castle
What: RMGA Membership Meeting
When: April 14, 2014
Program: Cherokee Ranch and Castle
Guide Line Review
Cherokee Ranch and Castle
Cherokee Ranch and Castle is a 1920s version of a 15th century Scottish style castle. We were met at the door by Carrie Fieger, Event/Volunteer Coordinator and several docents – Susan Bugbee and Joan Banko and our hosts were Leslie Stevenson and Joan Strobel-McLean. We met in the Great Room, a room with 30’ ceilings and two fireplaces. Joan Banko gave us a short background of the land and the castle. The Johnson family built the castle in 1924-1926. They had a home in Park Hill which Mr. Johnson had developed. He purchased the land in 1924 and hired architect Burnham Hoyt to construct the castle as a summer home. It was originally named Charlford Castle for the Johnsons’ two sons – Charles and Gifford. Tweet renamed many things to honor the Cherokee Indians from Tennessee, beginning with the ranch itself.
Hoyt designed the castle with architectural details from English and Scottish castles. The castle is based on castles dating from the 1450s though it has many modern details including electricity, central heating, plumbing, etc. Also the windows are large and the castle was placed on the site to take advantage of the Colorado sunshine. The castle was designed so that the sun hit the bedroom windows first and then shone in the Great Room and dining room windows in the evening. While the castle was under construction, the Johnsons traveled and sent back tiles and other architectural details that they instructed Hoyt to use his discretion and incorporate them into the castle. The Johnsons lived at the castle from 1926 until after WWII when it was used for a weekend home.
The castle sat empty for several years. In 1954 Tweet Kimball (Mildred Montague Genevieve Kimball) bought it. Tweet was nicknamed Tweet before her birth by her father who wrote to her mother during his time in the army while she was pregnant, asking how their “Tweetie Bird” baby was doing. Tweet was from Chattanooga, Tennessee and her family was very prominent. Tweet attended Bryn Mawr College and studied art. When Tweet married Merritt Ruddock the engagement announcement and photo were the full front page of the Chattanooga paper which Merritt’s family owned. In the background of the photo is an arched gate which is now at the castle in the Memorial Garden.
They were later divorced and Merritt offered to buy Tweet any property west of the Mississippi that she wanted, with the understanding that she would move there and stay there. He was concerned that she might tell unflattering stories about him in Chattanooga. So, she chose Cherokee Castle. The property consists of 3,400 acres (about five square miles) and is bordered on the east by Daniels Park open space and on the north by Highlands Ranch open space, thus guaranteeing about 12,000 acres in total that will not be developed. Tweet has funded the castle in perpetuity and nothing inside can be removed from the castle.
The castle is constructed of stone quarried on the property. The roof is multi-colored slate from Vermont. The oak beams are from Missouri and petrified wood has been found on the property though most of the construction elements are local. In the Great Room are eight corbels, one of which is elaborately carved, the others are not. The stonemason was an artist who also was known to overindulge in alcohol. He was reprimanded by the contractor that he was holding up the construction by his absences after a binge. The stonemason retorted that nobody could speak to him like that and so he simply walked off the job, leaving only one corbel completed.
There are eight fireplaces in the castle – two are in the Great Room. One is almost 5’ tall. In the Great Room are many historic pieces of art as well as furniture and decorative items. There is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia (1567) – Elizabeth and her husband were called the Winter King and Queen – they ruled only during one winter and were so disliked that they were deposed. Elizabeth was a grand-daughter of Mary Queen of Scots and a small portrait of Mary hangs next to that of Elizabeth.
Other items of note include an Italian Renaissance (early 19th century) cabinet; a statue of a Roman soldier guarding Christ’s tomb (from a Welsh monastery); a 332BC Greek vase (a gift to Tweet from an uncle) as well as Chinese palace urns.
At the other end of the room is a portrait of William & Mary, bought in England. This is a “grace and favor” portrait that William and Mary might have given to someone who had done something special for them. The portrait arrived with the frame covered in black paint in respect of the death of Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s consort). The large cabinet is from the William and Mary period and has a Bible drawer at the top where the Bible could be hidden in case someone came to the house that had different religious beliefs. There is a cutlery chest that is about 250 years old.
There is also a bust of Tweet’s great-grandmother (Mary Caroline Wilson Allen). Tweet’s great-grandfather had a foster brother – Edgar Allen Poe. Tweet also has original manuscripts of Poe’s works.
Tweet’s first husband was an attaché in the American Embassy in London after WWII. The British were cash poor and they sold their treasures to Tweet. In a side note, Tweet was enlarging her collection in London at the same time Julia Childs was studying at the Cordon Bleu in Paris where her husband was assigned.
Also in the Great Room are 11th and 12th century Greek monastery icons – one depicting St. Basil and St. Gregory and the other depicting St. George and the Dragon. Next to these is a Peter Paul Rubens study that Tweet first saw when it was very dirty. After it was cleaned, it was authenticated as a Rubens. There is also a 1532 Titian – of Isabella d’Este that was painted when she was 60. At her request, Titian painted her as if she were only 30. Isabella’s son was not happy with this.
We ascended the clockwise circular staircase – staircases designed in the 1500s were narrow so that defenders could slay opponents one at a time as they tried to come up the stairs. Being clockwise the defender could use his sword in his right hand, thereby gaining the “upper hand”.
Upstairs we entered the Elizabethan room (Scandinavian motif) which was remodeled for a Johnson son – the attached bath is mauve. The bed in the room is hand carved in one piece – it had to be brought in through the window. There is a self-portrait of Buckingham Wilson, an artist who died at 19 from being hit on the head by a big lump of coal thrown out a window. The ornately decorated chair and dresser are mid to late 1800s.
As we went into the Charles II bedroom, we passed an original John James Audubon flamingo from his Elephant Collection. In the Charles II bedroom is a hand carved bed from 1674. The bed is short and Charles II was 6’2” tall. In those days people slept in a sitting up position to avoid breathing the bad night air. The ornate cabinet has many hidden drawers and the fireplace is surrounded by tiles from rural France.
There is a portrait of Queen Anne – called Good Queen Anne because she opened hospitals, schools and generally tried to improve the lot of her subjects. Anne had 17 pregnancies but left no heir so the throne passed to George of Hanover, a forebear of Queen Elizabeth II. Up the stairs to the bathroom are several drawings of some of Tweet’s 24 Scottie dogs. In the bathroom are hand painted tiles depicting the Johnson’s Albion Street home in Park Hill. We looked at the intercom system which the Johnson boys said did not work well; however, with 10,000 square feet of house, it might be necessary to have some sort of communications system.
There is a small bedroom here transformed into the Ranch Room where Tweet displayed her awards and ribbons that her Santa Gertrudis cattle won (Brahma and shorthorn combination). Santa Gertrudis were the first new breed and was developed at the King Ranch in Texas. Tweet imported two bulls and 29 cows. The ranch manager refused to unload them, said they would not thrive in Colorado. Tweet fired him on the spot and went on to prove him very wrong. Tweet also started the Santa Gertrudis Association – now active in 17 states. Tweet ended up on the Board of the National Western Stock Show after first being denied any awards because the Santa Gertrudis breed was not recognized at the time. Tweet had “single-sire” herds and knew exactly which bull had sired which calf.
In this room is also displayed an unusual cigar store Indian – a woman. It is in excellent condition. Next to the Ranch Room is the library. There were over 14,000 volumes though only 1,000 of the most valuable are currently displayed. There is an eagle on the ceiling of this room.
We descended the stairs to the dining room which has a plaster ceiling decorated with Tudor roses. The dining table is reproduction Chippendale from 1902 and had belonged to Tweet’s mother. It is currently displayed with five leaves though there are more leaves available. Princess Anne of England was a dinner guest here in 1982. The fireplace is decorated with Portuguese tiles with a harvest theme – another of the items sent back by the Johnsons.
There is also a King Charles II portrait – Charles II was in exile for ten years and also left no heir. In the portrait he wears the sash of the Royal Order of the Garter, the oldest order in Britain (1348). Prince William wore the sash when he was married to Catherine a few years ago. The candelabra displayed is of Venetian glass and the color is unusual because gold was blown into the glass as it was being shaped.
There is also a portrait of Tweet’s other grandfather who ran cattle in Texas during the Civil War – Richard Burley Kimball. It is said that he owned a million acres. The corner cabinet next to his portrait has been in Tweet’s family for eight generations.
Off the dining room is the kitchen which has a wall size refrigerator/cooler. The kitchen sink is original. Tweet wrote a cookbook “From Ranch Hands to Royalty” with her recipes and stories about the guests she had entertained over the years. It is available for $20 in the small gift shop in the front hall.
In an alcove off the Great Room is the Churchill Room with photos and drawings on Winston as well as the Karsh photo for the cover of Life magazine. Tweet admired Churchill. There is a “sop of wine” divided door hiding a small bar. In the 1500s and 1600s, travelers stopped at monasteries to beg a room for the night so as to be safe. The top half of the door would be opened so that the monks could inspect the traveler and then, if they were admitted, they were given a chunk of bread dipped in wine (a sop) for their dinner. There are two elephant tusk carvings – a gift from a Nigerian diplomat. There is also a portrait of Lady Brudenell (from Charles II court) by Sir Peter Lely displayed (1690).
Around the corner is the spear door – made up of several spears from various countries and times – all protecting a suit of armor. There is a Gainsborough portrait of Henry Wise.
Tweet’s mother lived with her after her father died. In her bedroom/sitting room is a portrait of Tweet’s father and his saber which Tweet used to cut her wedding cake. There are also two Chinese figurines – gift to Tweet from one of her bridesmaids, Betsy Pillsbury. There is also a photo of Tweet with Ronald Reagan. The most important pieces are six of the original Sir Christopher Wren’s drawings for the rebuilding of London after the great fire of 1666. Tweet had loaned these and other items in the house to museums and special exhibits but they are not available for loan any longer.
Tweet’s two sons still live in the Denver area: Richard is a goldsmith in Cherry Creek (Richard Kimball Jewelry) and her other son is a sheriff in Douglas County.
The driveway is coach accessible and there is plenty of parking space for coaches. Restrooms are available. Special events can be arranged. Teas and teas/tours require a minimum of 20 people. Teas are $20/person, teas/tours are $45/person and the tour is an hour tour. The castle can accommodate up to 80 people for an evening event – usually dinner is one hour and a 15 minute tour is included before the entertainment – musicals, plays, mystery dinners, etc. Call Carrie Fieger to arrange these events.
We had a very short business meeting to remind everyone of the upcoming FAM trips and next month’s meeting at Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
--- Nancy Brueggeman
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