Bemis House

The lineage of Horace Greeley Bemis dates back to Joseph Bemis, born in 1619 in England.  Along with Horace, we find many early Colorado settlers from this family.  Some include:

• Alice Bemis, born in 1877 in Massachusetts, married Frederick Taylor in 1903 and they began a life of philanthropy that benefited Colorado then, as well as today.  Before her death in 1941, Alice bequeathed $400,000 to Colorado College in Colorado Springs, along with financial support of the Fine Arts Center and the Day Nursery, which she started in 1923.  In 1934, Alice donated $600,000 to build the Fine Arts Center located on the site of the Broadmoor Art Academy (which housed drama, music, an art school, galleries, and a library to house her 6,000 volumes of Americana) and the Taylor Museum for Southwest Studies. 
• Alice’s father, Judson Moss Bemis, was a major donor in building Bemis Hall in 1908.  Judson founded a manufacturing company that became the world’s largest manufacturer of textiles and paper bags.  As a Trustee of Colorado College from 1912-1919, he gave several buildings to Colorado College including Bemis Hall. 
• Alice’s husband, businessman Frederick Taylor, supported the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, the Nutrition Camp of Colorado Springs and the American Red Cross.  Both are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 
• Edwin Bemis, Editor of the Littleton Independent for many years, was another Bemis cousin.  He had an illustrious career in journalism and the Bemis Library in Littleton is named for him. 
• Fred Bemis, another cousin, was a farmer in Littleton.

Horace Greeley Bemis (Alice Bemis’ cousin) was born in 1848 in New York.  He was one of six children, many of who traveled to Colorado to make their homes.  Horace came to Colorado in 1870 at age 22, settling in Arapahoe County.  His father, Edmund, and brother Charley came with him, eventually settling in Longmont in 1872, and operating the Bemis Brothers Jewelry store.  By age 33, he had married Adelade “Addie” Carnahan and was living at 320 Terry Street.

Addie Carnahan was born in Iowa and moved with her family to Monument, Colorado.  She was 23 when she married Horace.  Together Addie and Horace had two children, Katie May, born in 1878 and Clyde, born in 1886.  Addie died at age 38 in 1896 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs, alongside her husband and father-in-law, Edmund.

By 1883, the Bemis Brothers Jewelry Store was an important commercial venture in the growing Longmont community.  Books were an added feature at their store after 1883.  Harriet Bemis married Christopher Columbus Schoolcraft and they raised a large family in Longmont. William Schoolcraft, one of their sons, and his wife, Frances are buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Longmont.  This well-known Pioneer was proprietor of Noah’s Ark Variety Store for 16 years, was associated with Schey Clothiers for 29 years, and had been a member of the Old Fellows Lodge for 46 years, serving as financial secretary of the Lodge for 41 years.  He held Masonic membership during his long residence in the community.  The Schoolcraft family has many descendants living in the surrounding area.

When Addie died, the family stayed for one more year, leaving Longmont for California in 1897.  While in California, Horace “struck it rich” drilling for oil.  He enjoyed prosperity and good health until 1923, when he died from a heart attack.  His son, Clyde, brought him back for interment in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, stopping in Longmont to say hello to old friends.

The Horace G. Bemis House was sold to Jacob K. Bashor when he moved to California.  The home was owned by John H. and Lorinda Douglass from the early 1900s to 1956, and Mamie Harper and her family from 1956 to 1963.  In 1963 Helen E. and Robert M. Braun (a local architect) purchased the home.  In 1986 the Braun’s sold the home to Lehman Communications Corporation.

-- also see http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/city_council/320_terry.htm