lora josephine knight
Her father was a corporate lawyer who partnered with two brothers, William Henry Moore and James Hobart Moore. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. For as long as I can remember, Ive been fascinated by the mysterious widow who built the castle at Emerald Bay. Find the . Emerald Bay reminded her of fjords she had seen on numerous travels to Scandinavia. Download Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight's Tea House on Fannett Island in Emerald Bay State Park. They agreed to be major supporters. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight chose Emerald Bay to build her castle, Vikingsholm. It became the summer home for Mrs. Knight and her family for 15 years until her death. It was originally constructed to be the summer residence of Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight who had been impressed by her architect nephew's Nordic-inspired home in New York. For a birthday present, his father wrote him a check for $100,000. The Castle has 38 rooms, and unusual architecture with a sod roof seeded with wildflowers, dragon heads on the edge of the . Search. According to McLaughlin, Lora Knight was known for her hospitality and philanthropy. There is a single-lane dirt road that connects Vikingsholm with Highway 89. 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. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. [2] Her $3 million estate went mostly to relatives and church and educational organizations. The scenery around Emerald Bay reminded her of Norway, so she chose a Scandinavian architectural style for the house. The only island on Lake Tahoe, Fannette island hosts a small stone structure that was once the tea house of Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, the owner of Vikingsholm. [2], In 1922, she married stockbroker Harry French Knight of St. 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. Emerald Bay also reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with it steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. What Makes It Unique: In the late 1920s, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight purchased land on Emerald Bay. This "summer" home was built on 239 acres of land purchased by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight for $250,000 in 1928. The estate is also considered to be one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture on the continent. In order to preserve the natural environment of Emerald Bay, Knight insisted that local Tahoe materials be used with the exception of the leaded windows with pastel stained-glass panes imported from Sweden. Apparently, she chose the Scandinavian motif because she had admired Palmes own Scandinavian-designed home in New York. Lora Josephine Knight fell in love with the spot on Emerald Bay, as it reminded her of the fjords she had visited in Scandinavia. In 1928, Mrs. Knight had her mind firmly set on Emerald Bay to build her "castle of the sky." She gave the family who owned the land an offer they couldn't refuse. Burial Details Unknown. Vikingsholm was built by Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. Search for: Browse by Date Lora had a life-long reputation for her generous hospitality, philanthropy and numerous financial contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada. Friends spent many summers with Mrs. Knight at Vikingsholm, swimming, boating, and hiking . Born of English decent but from the Chicago area, Mrs. Knight was particularly enthralled by Nordic designand so became Vikingsholm. Despite its ancient motif, Vikingsholm had all the conveniences available in the 1930s, including electricity, modern fixtures and private baths in the bedrooms. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Today, the historic estate feels almost as much a part of Emerald Bay as Eagle Falls, Fanette Island or the centuries-old trees. Finnish carpenters were then brought in to hew timber, while a Scandinavian craftsman was hired to create the intricate exterior wood carvings. Weather and vandalism have left the Tea House in a miserable condition. [2] Her charitable contributions included youth groups, community centers, and college scholarships. The over 70-foot long Bleu Wave carries up to 50 passengers and includes a private lounge, fireplace and more. Oops, something didn't work. 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. The horse stable housed 60 thoroughbreds. She loved Scandinavian architecture and Emerald Bay reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with its steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. To build it, she hired Swedish architect Lennart Palme, her nephew by marriage. [1] He won a gold medal in the 1904 Summer Olympics as part of American golf team, and was known for his lavish parties, but died at 25 in 1910 after a night in "Chicago's most famous and expensive house of prostitution," which made national news and led to a citywide crackdown on brothels and morphine abuse in Chicago. In later years, Lindberg frequently visited Lora at her various estates including Vikingsholm. Her "Castle in the Sky" features intricate . She and her husband backed Charles Lindbergh's flight. She exhibited Indian baskets, including some by the noted Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee, also known as Louisa Keyser. Inspired by 11th century Nordic churches and castles, Knight commissioned detailed wood carvings to be placed throughout the interior and exterior. We have set your language to She was born Lora Josephine Small in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 - one of a family of four daughters and one son. 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. This teahouse was used by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, who also owned the famous Vikingsholm mansion. In a fjord-like setting at Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay State Park, the 38-room Vikingsholm castle is a rare masterpiece of Scandinavian architecture. Read More. Many communities were interested in Licks $2 million estate and several protested the Tahoe location insisting that they were better suited for an observatory than the snowbound lake. Palme and Knight traveled to Scandinavia to research the design features that would be incorporated into her Tahoe castle. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. Drugs were suspected. As fate would have it, Lora married James and her sister Ada married William. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Edge Country Club as well as stunning views of Smith Mountain Lake and the spectacular golf course, which sits like an emerald surrounded by the blue waters of the lake and lush mountain scenery. Sometimes government officials did not allow these native heirlooms removed from the country, so Knight had craftsmen reproduce them in exact detail, including the aging of the wood and even mimicking scratches on the originals. During construction of the main house Lora turned her attention to Fannette Island in the middle of Emerald Bay. But nature is the real draw. They agreed to be major supporters. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. This spectacular site was originally built to be the summer residence of Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. If Lake Tahoe was tipped upside-down . Today, Lora Knight's Viking castle is considered perhaps the . 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. The California landmark is one of the finest Scandinavian structures located outside of the Nordic countries. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Lora Knight (110560461)? The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. Lora had a life-long reputation for her generous hospitality, philanthropy and numerous financial contributions to youth groups in California and Nevada. In the 1960s, the property was vandalized, especially the teahouse, which is now only four rock walls and empty squares for windows. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. After a short marriage to Henry Knight, yet keeping his last name, Lora Knight went to work on creating the castle of her dreams to blend in with the bay. What used to be Mrs. Knight and a few guests has now turned into 2.5 . She made financial contributions stretching from Santa Barbara, CA, to Reno, NV, and went toward youth groups, community centers, and college scholarships. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. Get into more larger-than-life Lake Tahoe history on a tour of Vikingsholm Castle, the summer home of Lora Josephine Knight, a wealthy heiress and widow who used her fortune to build a 38-room Scandinavian-style mansion on Emerald Bay, which reminded her of the fjords she'd seen on trips to Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Before starting construction of the summer home late that year, Mrs. Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the construction of the house. During construction of the main house Lora turned her attention to Fannette Island in the middle of Emerald Bay. . She's best remembered today for building Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-inspired castle along the shores of Lake Tahoe, as a summer home in 1928. The property had a boat house constructed for her mahogany cabin cruiser named Valkyrie and a teahouse constructed on Fannette Island made from bricks cut from local granite. Oak Hill Cemetery. She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Hence the Viking-inspired home on the lake. In order to preserve the natural environment of Emerald Bay, Knight insisted that local Tahoe materials be used with the exception of the leaded windows with pastel stained-glass panes imported from Sweden. Lora and her husband, James, traveled extensively in California and to foreign countries. In 1873, engineer Alexis Von Schmidt recommended the site for the proposed James Lick Astronomical Observatory that would house the worlds most powerful space telescope. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The trailhead to the late Lora Josephine Knight's '20s-era holiday home looks deceptively summery, but remnants of one of the region's longest winters-it snowed on June 6- has all but eliminated typical mid-June activities. 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. Vikingsholm is administered by the California Park System. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. Mrs. Knights Emerald Bay castle, called Vikingsholm, is an homage to Scandinavian architecture. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news. But since then, the state park has preserved Vikingsholm, and Knights legacy, for hundreds of thousands of visitors who arrive every year. She filled the house with original Scandinavian antiques and replicas she commissioned from artisans. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. 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 . Illinois, USA. Experienced and knowledgeable guides take you on a 30-minute touryou'll learn about owner Lora Josephine Knight, who thought that Emerald Bay resembled the fjords. [1][2] She hired Swedish architect Lennart Palme, who she was related through marriage, and chose a Scandinavian motif based on Palme's own home in New York. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The late owner, Lora Josephine Knight also commissioned the building of tea house in Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe's only island. - Ranked #2 of 131 attractions in South Lake Tahoe (Emerald Bay). It was built in a single summer. Her father Edward A. Laura Josephine "Lora" Small Knight Birth 1 May 1864. Your email address will not be published. Shes recalled some of those memories in a booklet and, more recently, as a park ranger. By the 1870s Lick was in poor health, but still fiercely determined to build the observatory. In 1873, engineer Alexis Von Schmidt recommended the site for the proposed James Lick Astronomical Observatory that would house the worlds most powerful space telescope. It was there in 1914 that Moore built a charming lakefront estate that she called Wychwood. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight later constructed Vikingsholm, an exquisite 38-room castle on the Emerald Bay shores, in 1928-1929. The roof of the north and south wings is topped with sod where grass and flowers grow each spring. Emerald Bay reminded her of fjords she had seen on quite a few travels to Scandinavia. 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 . 11 of 25 11. Work on the home ceased at first snowfall in the . Von Schmidt chose a site 300 feet above Lake Tahoe on the Chinquapin point, renaming it Observatory Point in anticipation. 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. Now the property is a California State Park and can be visited year-round with tours of the Vikingsholm interior in summer months. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? I've heard stories about the wealthy woman who built the teahouse on the island. Nearly all of the materials were sourced on site or nearby. By the 1870s Lick was in poor health, but still fiercely determined to build the observatory. Today, Lora Knight's Viking castle is considered perhaps the . After Edward Smalls death, William and James took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers partnership. [4], Knight was known for her hospitality, philanthropy, and eye for real estate. During the 1920s, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight had Vikingsholm built, as well as the Tea House on Fannette Island. EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published in the Summer 2017 edition of Tahoe Magazine. [5] As president of the St. Louis Flying Club, Harry Knight knew Charles Lindbergh, and the Knights were major financial backers of Lindbergh's 1927 solo flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of Saint Louis. . As soon as the snow melted in spring 1929, some 200 craftsmen arrived to build Vikingsholm. [1][2][3][4], In 1884, the two had a son, Nathaniel Moore, who later married Helen Fargo, heiress to the Wells Fargo fortune. 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. Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. 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. Work on the home ceased at first snowfall in the winter of 1928 and was started up again in the spring of 1929. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. Knight had become acquaintances with the Armstrongs through church affiliations and after the purchase she would build her majestic Vikingsholm the following year. [1][2][5][6] Lindbergh even stayed at the Knight's house the night before his flight. 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. Family members linked to this person will appear here. She then purchased 240 acres of land at the head of Emerald Bay, as well as Fannette Island, from the William Henry Armstrong family for $250,000. 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. In 1914, the Moores built a lakefront estate in Lake Tahoe at Chinquapin which they called Wychwood. He was a stockbroker in St. Louis, Missouri, and an aspiring pilot. Failed to remove flower. March 18, 2021 by rrservices Leave a Comment. The house had modern fixtures, electricity, and each bedroom had a private bath. Lora was 20 years old when she gave birth to her only child, a son named Nathaniel Moore. The widowed heiress is Lora Josephine Knight. Apparently, she chose the Scandinavian motif because she had admired Palmes own Scandinavian-designed home in New York. Small, was a corporate lawyer who accepted two . Small was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 to lawyer Edward Small. He grew up much like youd think the single heir to a fortune would, but his time was short. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. 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. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. Please enter your email and password to sign in. A system error has occurred. Visitors can hike down to the home and tour it. Death 26 Jun 1945 (aged 81) Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA. Subscribe and Download now! Eight years before her marriage to Harry Knight, Mrs. Josephine Moore purchased the land at Chinquapin from descendants of Lake Tahoe timber baron Duane L. Bliss. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the . In later years, Charles Lindbergh frequently visited Lora Knight at her Santa Barbara estate and the Vikingsholm castle as well. 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. She exhibited Indian baskets, including some by the noted Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee, also known as Louisa Keyser. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. Mrs. Knight had Vikingsholm built for her as a summer home in 1929. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Required fields are marked *. Soon after, Lindbergh approached the Knights to fund his groundbreaking trans-Atlantic flight. Lora Knight died in 1945 and Lawrence Holland, a Nevada rancher purchased the Vikingsholm from her estate. Thanks for your help! After Edward Smalls death, William and James took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers partnership. Knight loved Tahoe, and for 16 years she enjoyed her summers at Wychwood, hosting friends and family members, but in 1928, she sold her beloved lakeside Shangri-La to Robert Stanley Dollar Sr., a wealthy San Francisco businessman. But in 1910, Nathaniel suddenly died. The Vikingsholm castle greets visitors to Emerald Bay. During the summer months she would take guests to the island for high tea. Julie Brown is a freelance writer and former contributing editor at SFGATE. The widowed heiress is Lora Josephine Knight. . Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours through the end of September. It is known as 'Tahoe's Hidden Castle' and draws thousands of curious visitors each year. Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA. It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. James Lick, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, first struck it rich in the California Gold Rush and then parlayed his luck into a fortune by investing in San Franciscos booming real estate market. This is a carousel with slides. 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. Eight years before her marriage to Harry Knight, Mrs. Josephine Moore purchased the land at Chinquapin from descendants of Lake Tahoe timber baron Duane L. Bliss. Newspapers reported that Nathaniels death had a devastating impact on his parents, especially his father, who grew ill soon after. Inspired by Scandinavian architecture and 11th century Nordic churches and castles, widowed heiress Lora Josephine Knight built Vikingsholm in 1929. Lora Josephine Knight purchased the property encompassing the head of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island in 1928 for $250,000. Before starting construction, Knight and her architect traveled to Scandinavia to gather ideas for the house. She enjoyed the property for years, until her passing in 1945. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. But the story of Mrs. Knight and her Vikingsholm stand apart from the rest. And to foreign countries by 11th century Nordic churches and castles, widowed heiress Lora Josephine Knight, who owned. For validation purposes and should be merged or suggest changes to the motif. Spring of 1929 supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism homage to Scandinavian.... Hobart Moore California landmark is one of the James took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers.! Daviess County, California, USA architect Lennart Palme, her nephew by marriage to..., USA famous memorials will not have this option Knight was particularly enthralled Nordic! 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