Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight purchased Armstrong's land with the need to construct a summer house that may praise the magnificent pure environment. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. 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. based on information from your browser. In the early 1920s, Lora Small Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker from St. Louis. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. . . Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. James Hobart Moore passed away in 1916 at their home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Share this memorial using social media sites or email. We have set your language to 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. 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. For as long as I can remember, Ive been fascinated by the mysterious widow who built the castle at Emerald Bay. 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 . She exhibited Indian baskets, including some by the noted Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee, also known as Louisa Keyser. The bridge was not the only major . It was built in a single summer. She was born Lora Josephine Small in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 - one of a family of four daughters and one son. Try again later. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. They visited Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden as they inspected buildings dating back 1,000 years. She then commissioned Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect to whom she was related by marriage, to design Vikingsholm. Mansion built by Lora Knight. This marriage was not successful, and they were divorced prior to the building of Vikingsholm. 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. A system error has occurred. [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 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, purchased about two hundred acres of land at Emerald Bay in the Lake Tahoe region of California. For 32 years, the Armstrong family had spent long, golden summers along the shores of Emerald Bay. Whether its delightful dining options, fun things to do or amazing outdoor recreation opportunities, we have you covered. Harry was an amateur pilot and Harry and Laura were among Charles Lindberghs major donors for his solo Atlantic flight. Since this is my blog and I get to say whatever I want, I think Morris would've approved of . Small was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 to lawyer Edward Small. Knight had already spent 16 summers in Tahoe before she built Vikingsholm. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. [2], In 1922, she married stockbroker Harry French Knight of St. 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.. They also spent time at their luxury homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. After their fathers death the two brothers took over the firm and formed the Moore Brothers partnership and amassed 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). Required fields are marked *. Some parts of the structure contain no nails or spikes, as a result of old . There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. Their Wisconsin chateau boasted 27 rooms, a wine cellar and a two-lane bowling alley. Try again later. Emerald Bay also reminded her of a Norwegian fjord with its steep surrounding slopes and deep blue water. This was an era when Tahoe was first establishing itself as a summer haven for wealthy tourists who sought an escape from Californias cities. For a birthday present, his father wrote him a check for $100,000. Visitors, like Conn, sometimes leave . 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. 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. There was a boathouse for Knights largest boat, a beautiful mahogany cabin cruiser named the Valkyrie. During construction of the main house Lora turned her attention to Fannette Island in the middle of Emerald Bay. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. Unfortunately, they were not happy together and divorced after just a couple of years. 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 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. The Castle has 38 rooms, and unusual architecture with a sod roof seeded with wildflowers, dragon heads on the edge of the . 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. Friends spent many summers with Mrs. Knight at Vikingsholm, swimming, boating, and hiking . Work on the home ceased at first snowfall in the winter of 1928 and was started up again in the spring of 1929. Pieces of wood resembling spikes adorn the gutters in a nod to the Scandinavian custom people used to ward off evil spirits. [1] Knight often entertained guests such as her friend Charles Lindbergh at Vikingsholm. 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. His nationally reported death led to a crackdown on Chicago brothels and morphine abuse. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Search above to list available cemeteries. In 1928, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight bought land on the western shores of Lake Tahoe on which to build her home. 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. Helen Smith was a frequent guest. 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. Emerald Bay State Park, South Lake Tahoe, Ca.. Editor's note: This story originally ran in January 2021. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism. Those wishing to know more can enjoy one of the daily guided tours through the end of September. She enjoyed the property for years, until her passing in 1945. Life was good for the Moores, but after their purchase of the Tahoe property, James health began to fail. Burial Details Unknown. I imagined they wore summer dresses, carried parasols and sipped tea out of fine china, while enjoying Emerald Bays glory all by themselves. He grew up much like youd think the single heir to a fortune would, but his time was short. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. Read 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.. 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. The park is also, oddly, the home of Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle. She and her friends would take a motor boat from her mansion on the shore out to the island in the afternoon. 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. I've heard stories about the wealthy woman who built the teahouse on the island. 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Vikingsholm was built by Lora Josephine Knight as a summer home. She writes about Lake Tahoe and mountain communities throughout the West. 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. [1] She became one of the wealthiest women in America according to newspapers at the time. 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. 11 of 25 11. [1][2] They also owned homes in Illinois and Wisconsin. The scenery around Emerald Bay reminded her of Norway, so she chose a Scandinavian architectural style for the house. Set off on the steep trail down to the lakeside. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. This teahouse was used by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, who also owned the famous Vikingsholm mansion. . The horse stable housed 60 thoroughbreds. Lick leaned toward Von Schmidts recommendation, but the dying benefactor designated a committee to make the final decision. The Moore brothers had a controlling interest in a handful of large corporations, including United States Steel, Union Pacific, Rock Island Railroad and National Biscuit, or Nabisco. It was the first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory in the world and for nearly 10 years its telescope was the largest ever built. Today, Lora Knights Viking castle is considered perhaps the finest example of Scandinavian architecture in North America. 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. Their Wisconsin chateau boasted 27 rooms, a wine cellar and a two-lane bowling alley. Visitors can hike down to the home and tour it. Lora and her husband, James, traveled extensively in California and to foreign countries. By the 1870s Lick was in poor health, but still fiercely determined to build the observatory. [4][10], "The legacy of Lora Knight and why Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in North America", "The mysterious castle in Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay", "The History of Lora Knight and Her Vikingsholm", "Vikingsholm: A Brief History (Nordic Castle at Emerald Bay)", "The mysteries and stories of the Harry F. Knight House", "LORA J. KNIGHT; Former Wife of Stock Broker, Financed Lindbergh Flight", "GETS DIVORCE IN RENO COURT California Digital Newspaper Collection", "Clipping from Reno Gazette-Journal - Newspapers.com", "Historic Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay always in need of attention, support", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lora_Josephine_Knight&oldid=1101022867, This page was last edited on 28 July 2022, at 22:31. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The locally quarried granite boulders were ferried by barge to the island where derricks lifted them stone by stone. In 1922, Lora Moore married Harry French Knight, a stockbroker. Apparently, she chose the Scandinavian motif because she had admired Palmes own Scandinavian-designed home in New York. Apparently, she chose the Scandinavian motif because she had admired Palmes own Scandinavian-designed home in New York. Lora Small (Knight) was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1864 of English descent. The late owner, Lora Josephine Knight also commissioned the building of tea house in Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe's only island. 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 couldnt refuse. 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. EDITORS NOTE: This article was originally published in the Summer 2017 edition of Tahoe Magazine. var obConfig = { footer: '' }; What is your prediction for precipitation totals this winter season? 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. 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. Please try again later. For 32 years, the Armstrong family had spent long, golden summers along the shores of Emerald Bay. Mrs. Knight had it graded in 1929 for $10,000 so that she and her guests could arrive by automobile. Vikingsholm's design includes mortar-embedded granite boulders, hand hewn timbers, church entrance-like hand carvings, roof ridge carvings with dragon heads crossing at roof peaks, and a sod roof. Emerald Bay reminded her of fjords she had seen on numerous travels to Scandinavia. 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. This is a carousel. She then had 200 workers build Vikingsholm. Support timbers were hand hewn and interior wallboard meticulously hand planed, while metal fixtures like fireplace screens, hinges and latches were hand forged on-site. Lora Josephine Knight's 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 Failed to report flower. After years of bickering, the Lick Observatory was finally constructed in 1888 on Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. They agreed to be major supporters. Support timbers were hand hewn and interior wallboard meticulously hand planed, while metal fixtures like fireplace screens, hinges and latches were hand forged on-site. During the summer months she would take guests to the island for high tea. She exhibited Indian baskets, including some by the noted Washoe weaver Dat-So-La-Lee, also known as Louisa Keyser. Search. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. The only way to get to Fannette Island is by boat, kayak, or canoe. Lora was 20 years old when she gave birth to her only child, a son named Nathaniel Moore. [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. Subscribe to Envato Elements for unlimited Stock Video downloads for a single monthly fee. . 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