[1][3] She also built a small teahouse on Fannette Island inside the bay. Mrs. Knight had traveled Scandinavia with her architect where they were inspired by the architecture. Over 200 artisans, some from Scandinavia, and workmen constructed the estate by hand hewing the timbers, carving the intricate designs, hand planning the wood for the interior walls, and forging the hinges and latches. Knight spent 15 summers at Vikingsholm. Carved dragon heads are common as both interior and exterior decorations, as they were used in old Viking castles to divide the main room between the chieftain and his most honored guests from the women and children. [1][2], She and James Moore bought land at Carnelian Bay in Lake Tahoe in 1914 to build a large home known as Wychwood, as well getting another retreat on Lake Geneva. In the 1950's after Lora Josephine Knight died, the castle was sold to Harvey West, which is a name you probably recognize if you've spent some time around Lake Tahoe. Lora Josephine Knight (1 May 1864 - 26 June 1945) was a philanthropist from California who was at one time one of the wealthiest women in America according to newspaper reports. by BlackBoxGuild on Envato Elements Stock Video by BlackBoxGuild. The coroner said the cause of death was heart disease, but the night before, Nathaniel was up late at a brothel and had been drinking. Lindbergh approached the Knights about helping fund his effort to be the first to fly nonstop across the Atlantic at a St. Louis airfield where Harry, an aspiring aviator, was taking flying lessons. Tahoe has a handful of historic mansions along its shoreline that date back to the late 1800s and first quarter of the 20th century. The sibling entrepreneurs eventually amassed quite a fortune with controlling interest in a number of large American corporations such as the Diamond Match Company, U.S. Steel and National Biscuit (Nabisco), the maker of Oreo cookies. Lora and her sister Ada married two brothers, William and James Moore, who worked as partners in their fathers law firm. Please reset your password. Knight had derived design ideas from 11th century wooden churches in Norway and carvings from these ancient church entrances were incorporated into many Vikingsholm door entries. Nathan was an avid golfer and a participating member of the American Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1904 Summer Games in Missouri. I often visit Emerald Bay to go hiking. Lora Josephine Knight fell in love with the spot on Emerald Bay, as it reminded her of the fjords she had visited in Scandinavia. Despite its ancient motif, Vikingsholm had all the conveniences available in the 1930s, including electricity, modern fixtures and private baths in the bedrooms. During the summer months she would take guests to the island for high tea. Despite the expense and effort, the tea house was rarely used, even though Lora spent all her summers at Vikingsholm until her death in 1945. Oops, something didn't work. Required fields are marked *. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. She also exhibited baskets made by the famous Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee. "[8] She risked losing her entire fortune from her first marriage as part of the divorce. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. In the early 1920s, Lora Small Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker from St. Louis. The estate is also considered to be one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture on the continent. 9 Mar 1997 26 Oct 2021 California's Gold. The Vikingsholm foundation was laid in 1928, but the building was constructed in 1929 by 200 workers. Lora Josephine Small Knight Birth 1 May 1864. Currently it is used as a hiking trail by those wishing to visit this remarkable castle. The Vikingsholm castle greets visitors to Emerald Bay. [2][7], In 1927, she divorced Harry Knight, charging him with "extreme cruelty. With her first husband, she had a 27-room estate at Lake Geneva, a retreat for Midwestern tycoons, according to the Chicago Tribune. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Dinner was at 6:30 p.m. On most evenings after dinner, Mrs. Knight and her guests were driven by limousine to the top of the road at Highway 89, Smith said. Armstrong's land was purchased by Lora Josephine Knight in 1928 at a sum of $250,000 with the intent of creating a grand summer home residence that would reflect the area's natural beauty. This marriage was not successful, and they were divorced prior to the building of Vikingsholm. She and her husband backed Charles Lindbergh's flight. But since then, the state park has preserved Vikingsholm, and Knights legacy, for hundreds of thousands of visitors who arrive every year. Afternoon Hike in D.L. The house he created for her is called Cima del Mundo. Knight traveled to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland to research ideas for her grand Lake Tahoe home, including old wooden churches and ancient stone castles, before . There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. Drugs were suspected. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 of English descent. var obConfig = { footer: '' }; Douglas VHR panel keeps plugging away at new code, LTUSD: Sierra House Elementary a great place to learn, grow, Kiwanis Club serves South Tahoe community, Caboose of Lake Tahoe storm train in sight, South Lake Tahoe nonprofit Live Violence Free celebrates 45 years. Carved dragon heads are common as both interior and exterior decorations, as they were used in old Viking castles to divide the main room between the chieftain and his most honored guests from the women and children. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. . She then had 200 workers build Vikingsholm. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. The bridge was not the only major . Born of English decent but from the Chicago area, Mrs. Knight was particularly enthralled by Nordic designand so became Vikingsholm. In 1884, Lora gave birth to their only child, a son Nathaniel, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo banking dynasty founded in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Lora then purchased about 240 acres of land at the head of Emerald Bay, as well as Fannette Island, from the William Henry Armstrong family for $250,000. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. The roof of the north and south wings is topped with sod where grass and flowers grow each spring. There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Lora and James Moore moved to Santa Barbara for the ocean air. Nathan was an avid golfer and a participating member of the American Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1904 Summer Games in Missouri. Burial Details Unknown. [2] Her charitable contributions included youth groups, community centers, and college scholarships. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood. She was a major promoter and financial backer of Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis; and donated to a number of other causes and funded various building projects including her own summer retreat Vikingsholm, for which she is most known. The Vikingsholm design was carefully and thoughtfully created after Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight and her architect took a trip to Scandinavia. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Louis. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Emerald Bay also reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with it steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. Nathan Moore apparently knew how to have a good time, dying at the age of 25 of natural causes after spending the previous night at Chicagos most famous and expensive house of prostitution. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. She was a major promoter and financial backer of Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis; and donated to a number of other causes and funded various building projects including her own . Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. Lora Josephine Knights legacy is enshrined in the magnificent Scandinavian castle Vikingsholm that she had built at Emerald Bay in 1929, but her first property at Tahoe was actually located at Chinquapin, a sheltered cove just east of Dollar Point in Carnelian Bay. Julie Brown is a freelance writer and former contributing editor at SFGATE. . In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought the Armstrong's land with the desire to build a summer home that would compliment the magnificent natural surroundings. Construction on the castle began in the spring of 1929 and proceeded quickly as 200 workmen and artisans, housed in temporary barracks, quarried nearby stone and cut lumber. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. Vikingsholm was built by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. Construction on the castle began in the spring of 1929 and proceeded quickly as 200 workmen and artisans, housed in temporary barracks, quarried nearby stone and cut lumber. It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. Scandinavia comes to Lake Tahoe at a historic home. He too had development plans that never materialized and in 1953 donated the . LORA J. KNIGHT. Construction on the castle began in the spring of 1929 and proceeded quickly as 200 workmen and artisans, housed in temporary barracks, quarried nearby stone and cut lumber. [1][2][5][6] Lindbergh even stayed at the Knight's house the night before his flight. The horse stable housed 60 thoroughbreds. Lennart Palme said: The problem of placing Vikingsholm without disturbing the trees was perhaps the trickiest I have had to solve either abroad or in these United States.. The house had modern fixtures, electricity, and each bedroom had a private bath. Vikingsholm Castle is a 38-room mansion on the shore of Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. Come summer, the hiking trails are full of visitors, and state parks rangers open the castle for guided tours. Harry and Lora were divorced in 1928 and Lora Knight sold her Lakefront estate in Chinquapin to Robert Stanley Dollar Sr., a wealthy San Francisco businessman. In early 1916 they bought a home near Santa Barbara hoping that the mild Mediterranean climate might improve his condition, but he died on July 20, 1916, leaving Lora an estate worth $15 million. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). They traveled across Scandinavia for research and inspiration before laying the foundation in the late summer of 1928 for Vikingsholm. In 1914, the Moores built a lakefront estate in Lake Tahoe at Chinquapin which they called Wychwood. She built a castle on the island and served tea to her visitors. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight chose Emerald Bay to build her castle, Vikingsholm. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Knight had derived design ideas from 11th century wooden churches in Norway and carvings from these ancient church entrances were incorporated into many Vikingsholm door entries. His body was taken to the Moore home, to Lora, in a private ambulance. The house is available for guided tours . Nathan was an avid golfer and a participating member of the American Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1904 Summer Games in Missouri. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. Helen Smith was a frequent guest. Brown grew up on Tahoe's West Shore. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a6c48a6eb8c72e2209552e8955337afe" );document.getElementById("a260d01730").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, Im Greg and I can help you to have your piece of the Tahoe Lifestyle, sitemap admin 2023 All Rights Reserved Real Estate Website Design by IDXCentral.com. Breakfast was at 8 a.m. sharp, but afterwards, time was for the taking to read, hike up to the waterfalls or go fishing off the dock, Smith said. Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. She made financial contributions stretching from Santa Barbara, CA, to Reno, NV, and went toward youth groups, community centers, and college scholarships. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the house. Rocks in Water - California's Gold (803) We're talking about rocks in the water! Most of the materials came from the Tahoe Basin, trees were cut for their size and lack of knots, and the granite for the foundation and walls was quarried from behind the house. Lake Geneva, Walworth County, . As fate would have it, Lora married James and her sister Ada married William. Her father, Edward Small, was a corporate lawyer who took on two brothers as partners in his law practice William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Lora Knight filled her castle with original antiques she picked up in Scandinavia. Her father Edward A. Although their marriage was short-lived, Lora and Harry Knight were among the small group of St. Louis, Missouri, businessmen who were the principal financial backers of Charles Lindberghs famed 1927 flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris. Heading clockwise around the lake, the next stop is Emerald Bay State Park to check out Vikingsholm Castle, a 1929 stone summer home built by wealthy philanthropist Lora Josephine Knight and lauded as one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. Search. (So next time you visit Vikingsholm for a picnic, consider bringing some Ritz Crackers or perhaps Oreos.). Read More. He too had development plans that never materialized and in 1953 donated the land and buildings to the State of California for compensation of half the properties value ($125,000). The park is also, oddly, the home of Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. In 1884, Lora gave birth to their only child, a son Nathaniel, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo banking dynasty founded in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. Lora and her husband, James, traveled extensively in California as to foreign countries. She loved Scandinavian architecture and Emerald Bay reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with its steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. [1] She became one of the wealthiest women in America according to newspapers at the time. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. After Edward Smalls death, William and James took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers partnership. His award-winning books are available at local stores or atwww.thestormking.com. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Today, Lora Knights Viking castle is considered perhaps the finest example of Scandinavian architecture in North America. From there they strolled back down to Vikingsholm.. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. Search above to list available cemeteries. In fact, Vikingsholm was commissioned by Mrs Lora Josephine Knight who had been in love with Scandinavian fjords. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia that summer to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. Vikingsholm - Built in 1929 by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. He was 25. There was an error deleting this problem. Illinois, USA. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 of English descent. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Lora Knight (110560461)? Try again later. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864. Small was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 to lawyer Edward Small. Lora was the only heir to his estate, which was rumored at the time to be worth as much as $100 million (though Lora told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1921 that it was "nearer one-tenth that sum"). They agreed to be major supporters. Mansion built by Lora Knight. Mrs. Knight insisted that the natural environment of Emerald Bay be protected and so no trees were cut in the vicinity of the estate and the home was built around several large trees. This tour passes by many beautiful spots around the lake shores, including the shores of beautiful Emerald Bay, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight's Vikingsholm Castle and Tea House at Fanette Island, Eagle Waterfall and more. Lennart Palme said: The problem of placing Vikingsholm without disturbing the trees was perhaps the trickiest I have had to solve either abroad or in these United States.. Memorial do you think is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm Highway! [ 2 ] [ 7 ], in 1864 of English descent was taken the. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the shore of Emerald Bay also her! Inspired by the architecture rangers open the castle for guided tours 1997 26 Oct California. Next time you visit Vikingsholm for a picnic, consider bringing some Ritz Crackers perhaps. 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