Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING RECEPTION
December 18th, 2010On December 14, 2010, the Trustees of El Pomar Foundations hosted McAllister House Museum at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Reception at Penrose House. Over 100 guests were treated to this gala event at the beautifully decorated former home of Spencer and Julie Penrose and watched in amazement as the giant tree lit up with thousands of sparkling blue lights. El Pomar presented The National Society of The Colonial Dames in the State of Colorado with a check for $10,000 to support the operating expenses of our lovely museum. In modest return, the McAllister House Committee presented each of the El Pomar Trustees with the first copies of our new publication, McAllister House Museum, Built 1873, Treasured Memories of 50 Years as a Museum.
Our deepest thanks to El Pomar Foundation for their generous and continued support. It was El Pomar Foundation who 50 years ago granted the Colonial Dames sufficient funds to restore McAllister House to its original Victorian look, allowing us to open it as a museum in June 1961.
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Paranormal Investigation of the Museum!
November 11th, 2010We have the report from The Night Team Paranormal Project Investigation of McAllister House done on July 9, 2010. Stationary infrared cameras were placed in the parlor, library and each of the bedrooms. Digital audio records were with the investigators and one was left running in the children’s bedroom to conduct EVP sessions. EVP stands for electronic voice phenomena. As they explained it, this is when a voice or noise is picked up on audio recording that are not from anyone present and could not be heard by investigators at the time. Along with the EVP sessions they ran portable video cameras with night vision capabilities, monitored atmospheric conditions and also monitored the static cameras on their DVR system.
Nothing unusual was noted while the investigators were present but a recorder was left running in the children’s bedroom and the static cameras were left running all night long. Nothing that couldn’t be explained was caught on the cameras however there were some EVPs from the digital audio recorders.
At about 9:20 when the investigators said, “We don’t know a lot about you”, what sounds like a female voice whispers something like “Mary Anne” or “Here I am”. (There were two young Mary’s who lived in the house – Mary McAllister and a 12 year old, Mary Coon who helped around the house in 1900. One of the Committee members present the evening of the investigation was named Mary Anne)
In the wee hours of the morning a voice says “Hettie”. (A prized possession in the museum is a pair of dolls donated in 1961 named Hettie and Lettie)
And later in the morning a child’s voice is heard saying, “Mommy”. Later, “Mommy, tell them( or him) to stop…. Mommy.” There is distress in the child’s voice. (Anyone with children might recall a younger daughter calling for help when her older brother is teasing her. Could this be Harry giving Mary or Matilda a hard time?)
There were more sounds as well and The Night Team Paranormal Project will be posting the results on their website, http://www.thenightteam.com/index.html. We will also be having them return for further investigation.
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Workshops and yard cleanup – Late October report
October 24th, 2010On Saturday, October 23, 2010 a workshop was held in our Carriage House to for those who might be interested in becoming members of The National Society of The Colonial Dames in the State of Colorado ( NSCDA in CO) The NSCDA in CO, a lineage society, owns McAllister House Museum as well as Hotel de Paris in Georgetown.
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America actively promotes our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.
Please contact the museum and we’ll get you to the right people if you’re at all interested in becoming a member of the NSCDA in CO!
And, of course, it’s fall. Every July the Rampart Range Rotary spends a day cleaning and beautifying the yard as well as doing repair work on fences and tables and whatever is needed. But come October the leaves fall from the trees and it’s nigh on impossible to see the grass. A major leaf removal was done on 10/24 but there were still leaves hanging on those trees reminding us that this won’t be the end of it.
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Beyond the Lacy Curtains
October 6th, 2010As his best friend went west, Henry returned home to marry his local sweetheart. Henry and Elizabeth McAllister were married January 17, 1866 by the mayor of Philadelphia. Now, at the time Philadelphia was a hopping place! It was the city of the World’s Fair and was the hub of culture and sophistication. If Mrs. McAllister wished she could walk two blocks from her city home and fetch exotic fruit and ice cream in one trip! To think that they left all that behind to come to a desolate, God-forsaken place overrun by hostiles (Eastern perspective).
Soon after Major McAllister stepped off the train he witnessed the ferocity of the WILD west that was so unlike civilized Philadelphia. A gale strength wind blew through the station and blew over the train! After seeing this- Major McAllister insisted that his house be secure…and so the cottage he built has 3″ steel rods bolting the basement to the roof and the exterior walls are 16″ thick (the standard for modern homes is 6″-8″). Many joke that it was the first house standing in Colorado Springs and it will be the last one standing.
I muse over the histories I’ve learned working in this charming cottage as I look out the lacy curtains from the master bedroom. Here in this room I am safe, warm and cozy. I am surrounded by grand pieces of furniture, fine china and intricately embroidered textiles. The cottage truly is a time machine. But when I look out the window I can see the bank behind the property. A man who’s just used the ATM has thrown his receipt onto the ground and greedily slurps the soda in his hands. Another man in tattered clothes wanders the alley behind the house clutching a cardboard sign. I don’t have to read it to know what it says…something along the lines of “Out of work. Need help.” The world outside this beautiful cottage is so much different than the world inside. The Colorado Springs the McAllisters nurtured has drastically changed. Perhaps I should go outside and join the man with a sign of my own: “Lost Hope. Seeking common ground between past and present.”
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Comments from one of our prized docents
September 27th, 2010The Beginning of a Victorian Revival!
I’ve always been a Victorian junkie. I dare you to come and see my period drama DVD collection, or the insane amount of Victorian Gothic literature on my shelves. I’m like a twilight fan stuck in Regency England- but instead of yearning for Edward Cullen, my heart goes wild for lace gloves, antique opera glasses, and the sound of swishing silks… and now I’d found my ultimate high!
It’s a quaint little place. Filled with charm, priceless valuables, hundreds of untold stories and millions of possible encounters. I unearthed a beaver muff last weekend from a cedar chest under the sleigh bed in the childrens’ room. Who’s muff was it? It’s labeled as a gift from Josh Fiston by way of Mr. Loveland for a young woman by the name of Anne. Were they lovers? Was he hopelessly devoted to her and so cemented her affections with gifts? Or are my romantic sensibilities going too far and its simply a beaver muff…we shall see.
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Picnic on the lawn
September 13th, 2010We were very pleased to have First Congregational Church hold their All-Church picnic on the grounds of McAllister House Museum on Sunday, September 12, 2010. Our location was selected because the McAllisters were very likely members of First Congregational Church during the time the church was founded and its location is but half a block from the Museum. Elizabeth and Henry McAllister would have thought this most appropriate and would have surely hosted if they’d been available!
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Photos from Ice Cream Social
September 1st, 2010
Mr. Winfield Scott Stratton, carpenter on McAllister House
Great crowd
Vintage/Antique cars in front of the museum
Rolo the clown and his balloon animals
Love those cars
Ice Cream Social
September 1st, 2010Thanks to all who volunteered and participated in our Ice Cream Social on August 28, 2010. It was a huge success with flute music and barbershop quartet singing, antique and vintage cars, Rolo the Clown with balloon animals, free face painting, Mr. Winfield Scott Stratton strolling the grounds, nickel ice cream, hot dogs and lemonade, the Herb Society, Sweet Celebrations and more. About 130 people toured the museum keeping our wonderful and tireless docents busy but happy.
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Ghosts?
July 11th, 2010To our knowledge there have never been any reports of ghosts or unusual paranormal activity at McAllister House Museum. But to be sure, the night of July 9, 2010 The Night Team, a group of well trained and experienced paranormal investigators based out of Colorado Springs, CO set up their equipment and did an investigation of the Museum. Several members of the McAllister House Committee were on hand to help and watch and learn. The cameras were left running all night so stay tuned to see if anything was discovered. It will be several weeks before all the evidence can be studied and analyzed.
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Improvements to the Grounds!
July 3rd, 2010We are so excited about a donation by the After Hours Garden Club. They are updating and improving the landscaping of the museum this summer. The plan has been thoroughly researched and is in keeping with the Victorian era. The front and south gardens are being worked on: the garden club is donating the plants, materials and labor for the project. Drive by to see how lovely the front of the house is looking!
For the second summer in a row, Organically Grown Lawn Service has donated five weed and fertilizer treatments. The lawn is looking weed-free and healthy this year.
The Front Range Herb Society continues to maintain the herb garden by the kitchen. It is particularly beautiful this year!
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