REAL ESTATE VALUES IN DENVER COLORADO

REAL ESTATE VALUES IN DENVER COLORADO

(Colorado – Denver Real Estate) Schermerhorn, John R. (1847-1917) Three letter written by John R. Schermerhorn, a successful businessman and politician, concerning the Denver Real Estate market. With business interest both in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he established the firm of Schermerhorn & Dietrich, Hatters & Gents Furnishing and also in Denver where he moved for health related reasons. While living in Denver he was president of the Denver Real Estate Exchange. Also became a vice president of a bank, the head of a casket manufacturing plant and the director of the State Reform School at Boulder, Colorado. He also served one term as a Colorado State Senator.

The letters are written to his cousin Herman Schuster in Neillsville, Wisconsin and concern his (Schermerhorn) impressions of Denver and the opportunities for making money there; how well he has done in the Denver real estate market; his various other businesses and community involvements; the health benefit of Colorado’s climate and his thoughts on President Cleveland and the silver issue.

Source: Harrisburg (PA) Telegraph, 29 January 1917.

The 4-page February 16, 1889 letter is written on The East End Land and Investment Co of Denver stationery which indicates that Schermerhorn was Treasurer. He writes,

“Denver, Colo., Feby 16. 1889.

Dear Cousin,

Your very kind letter was duly rec. and should have been answered before, but I have been so very busy I have neglected doing so. I can assure you I was very glad to hear from yu and to know that you was doing well. Yes, I am here in this beautiful city. This is my 3rd trip to Denver. I have done very well indeed. My family are here with me this Winter. We expect to go east about April 1st. I shall dispose of my business in the East and shall if I am spared return to Denver and build me a home this summer.

We expect to make that our future home. A man can make more here in 6 months than he can East in 6 years. I have invested money here for friends in Kansas, Minnesota & Pennsylvania and they have all made money. I was in a Syndicate that bought 280 acres since July and it is now closed and lots that we sold for $250 by the block is now being resold at 350 to 425 per lot. I bought ½ block yesterday that I can sell for 175 per lot while parties adjoining are asking 250. I have lots at 175, 225, 310 & $400 – and any one can make good money on any of them inside of a year. I sell at 1/3 cash, Bal 1, 2 & 3 year @ 8%. Rapid transit to all of them and the farthest from the center of the city can be reached in 25 minutes. Car fare 5 [cents]. If you can handle any of my property I will pay you 5% commission. I am sure you could not do better than to make some investments here for yourself. The sales here last month amounted to over 6 million. Cable Roads are building all over the city. Lots that sold 3 years ago for 300 are bringing from 12 to $1500. This city has doubled in population the past 5 years. I think it would pay you to come out here and take a look at the Queen City of the Great West.”My family like it here very much and I think my health will be much better here. I would like to see you all very much I thought sure I would get to see you last summer but I seem to have so much to do I don’t get time. It is very hard for me to ____ myself away from Harrisburg friends as I have been treeated so kindly. Last year I was President of the Y.M.C.A., A Steward in Grace Church a Director in one of the Banks, but I have made a great many good friends here. And so I am Young Yet I think I will get along all right here. Remember me to all of the cousins. Let me hear from you often.

We all send Love. Your Cousin

John Schermerhorn”

Letter #2:

The 2-page second ALS is written on The Schermerhorn & Thomas Investment Co stationery where Schermerhorn is listed as president. It reads in full:

8/1 1892

Dear Cousin,

Your kind letter I have and I will now assure you that I was very glad to hear from you it seems strange that I did not rec Matties Wedding Cards but I suppose they went to my old address, My wife and I have been out on the Pacific Coast for 2 months and the children were East to their Grandmothers in Harrisburg when we were at the Del Monte Hotel in California one day a Gentleman and Lady Registering from your place and I tried to find them and see if I could learn anything about you but I found they only stopped for part of a day and so I missed seeing them I felt quite disappointed for I felt sure he would know you. How are all the Boys? I mean Lucinda’s Brothers. My health is not any good. I have worked too hard since I came here. Our Vice President [of his company] is over to our London office at present and although I have a good Secty and a good Book Keeper, still I must see after everything. I will send you one of our Chamber of Commerce Reports. I will mark our office and my home. I hope you will come out sometime and bring Cousin Lucinda. Please Remember me Kindly to all the Cousins. Wish best wishes to you and yours. (Write – often). Yours Kindness.

Your Cousin,

__Sch

Letter 3:

7-page letter.

Denver 2/14/94

My Dear Cousin.

Your very welcome letter dated Feby 8th came to hand last evening I was very glad to hear from you once more but very sorry indeed to learn that Cousin Lucinda and all of your Children were ___ with that dread disease Consumption. Your letter found me confined to the House when I have been most of the time in my Room 4 Wks today, when I lived in the East I suffered very much from Muscular Rheumatism and malaria. That is what first brought me to Colorado to see if it would benefit my health for a while I was very much better and had I followed out my plan of taking the balance of my life easy I intended when I first came I would have been all right but I had always worked very hard and after a few months rest I felt I must go into business again. I found a larger Real Est. and Invt Co. with two other men. I was Pres’t of this Company and for a time I was Pres’t of a small Motor RR and 6 other Syndicates besides doing a larger Amount of Religious Work. I am a Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Committee of our Large Trinity M. E. Church, Pres’t of the Ch Board of Extension, Pres’t of the State Com. Y.M.C.A., besides for the past 3 years I have had a Young Men Class that meets every Sunday am 9:30 Numbers from 30-40. Then I am one of the Directors of our local Y.M.C.A. The Executive Com of our Board of Ch Extension meets tomorrow and they are coming to meet in my library as I am not able to go out to our regular place of meeting. I am glad to say my Dear Wife and Children are as well as usual our Daughter Mary entered the High School last year when she was 14 our Boy thinks more of Foot Ball, Bycically & C than his Studies. He will be 17 the 23rd but they both have very good health. Well I guess you think I have forgotten about your Enquiring Oh No I havent. I will send you some papers that will give you some idea of Colorado and her resources. As to Denver City, this without a doubt is one of the finest cities of its size in the US, but at present it is very dull. You know it could not be otherwise as this is the great Silver Center of the West. Altho’ we have been seriously crippled in one of our leading industries, I believe in the end it will be a good thing as it has set our people to work developing many of our natural industries that were lying idle. I believe in the next 2 years we will mine more gold & silver than ever and when Grover Cleveland is out of the way, silver will again come to the front and Colorado will be the richest state in this Union. I wish things were as they were when I came here I would say pack up your “Colony” and come at once but the way they are now it is hard to advise you. I made some Money here but I have lost a great deal on account of my health. I gave up Business last August in Oct I took my family to the World Fair from there we sent the Children Home and Mrs and myself went East for a few wks to try what the Low Altitude would do for me but I did not feel much better so we returned Home. As for Colorado Climate I believe on account of the Dry Atmosphere that any one who comes here before the Lungs are much affected will receive great benefit. I have known many cases of Lung trouble that have been greatly benefited in this climate. Our house is one Mile above Sea Level some cannot stand the High Altitude but those who can get along Nicely. I think it would be best for you and your _____ to come out here this Spring make your Headquarters at our Home and take a look over the State. I believe things are going to Improve very much here this Spring. There are many New Mining Camps opening up all over the State where your Son inlaws might do well if they found no opening in this City. There is one thing Sure if they cannot live then they had better try some other place even if they cannot do as well. I Shall be only to glad to give you any information I can. We would be very glad to have the Photographs of your Family. Remember me to James Canon and all the rest of my relatives. I shall be glad to hear from you often, Sweet Nancy sent me her Photo. A short time ago She does not look as if She was troubled with Consumption.

With much Love to all ____

Your Cousin

J.R. Schermerhorn

The three letters shed light on one of Denver’s leading citizens in the 1890s and the real estate opportunities to be had in a rapidly growing city. Very legible and in vg condition.