She decided to ask the trustees of her estate to lend her $750,000 to buy a horse ranch in Colorado. The claim was dished like hot gossip to visitors at Duluth's recent Catalyst Content Festival, appears in many local history books and is featured on several of the city's websites. For further reading and research, explore the source materials that contributed to the History & Culture: Shipwrecks website. American historical society. Then he graduated as class valedictorian from seminary school before taking a law degree at Syracuse University. Roger Caldwell was tried first and convicted in 1978. Reggie is an events manager guru. When declared a constructive total loss, officials placed the value at more than $1.5 million. (And no, they're not Scandinavian). Only the quick action of Dick LeRoy prevented the fire from spreading and burning the neighborhood down. Glensheens collection has over 10,000 items. Lawyer. Before she was arrested, Marjorie arranged to have the body of her friend cremated. Being from Minnesota, I am beyond the story of the murders. She resides in Tucson, Arizona. Marjorie was acquitted in 1979. Tuesday, June 28, 1977: The Congdon murders, Supreme Court of Minnesota 08/07/81 Matter Elisabeth M. Congdon v. 51721 (about the fate of the heritage), "Heiress pleads guilty in fraud case one day before trial - Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 1 (2006-2009)", Arizona judge denies probation relief for Marjorie Congdon Hagen, Associated Press November 27, 2010, "Jennifer Congdon Johnson Obituary & Funeral | Racine, WI | Maresh-Meredith & Acklam", Jeffrey Hatcher, Chan Poling turn Congdon murders into musical 'Glensheen', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elisabeth_Congdon&oldid=1145773467, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The wreck of Chester A. Congdon was a tremendous financial loss. Who is Kate Hudso Who is Daniel Ings? ed. Chester Adgate Congdon was a go-getter. It was then that he decided to build his dream home on the shores of Lake Superior. Velma was covered in blood. A little known fact is that a movie was filmed in and around the Glensheen Mansion in 1972. How much does Lucas Congdon make . The staff rarely saw her. His W Kobe Bryant's daughter Natalia Diamante Bryant net Naked Truth Of Hallie Jackson Babys Daddy i Bingham Hawn Bellamy's Wiki Bio. The Catch: Exploring New Opportunities to Fly at Red State Reckoning: Playing Paintball in Martinsville, IN, Getting off the Boat at Ellis Island: Examining the Question of Immigration in New York City, Uncovering the Crime of the Century: The Hall-Mills Murders in New Brunswick, NJ, The Five Most Scenic Interstate Rest Areas in the US, Deadly Charm: The Murders at the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, Minnesota, The Greatest American You Never Heard of: George C. Marshall and Dodona Manor, 6 Ways Mid-Range Hotels Give You More than Upscale Hotels. Glensheen mansion is a landmark in the city of Duluth, MN. The newly renovated Glensheen Mansion has more events than ever for the summer of 2016. "A well posted man was discussing Duluth's great prosperity yesterday," the editorial stated. She then moved to teach art and modern language at Wyoming seminary in Pennsylvania. The couple has two sons, Asa and Finnegan Congdon. Stained glass window above the stairway landing at Glensheen mansion where Velma Pitiela was murdered. Required fields are marked *. Overnight, Congdon became a very wealthy man. His measure would eventually fail. When you tour Glensheen Mansion, the 39-room Congdon family home on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, the docents try to avoid talking about the murders. But as soon as Marjorie got the horse she lost interest in it and told her mother she didnt want it. The photo below shows The Waterfall of Mino as it is today. What did the topography of the Iron Range look like before it was mined? She is known for her amazing leadership skills and is an integral part of the #gamechanging that is happening at Glensheen. She knew they were unlikely to front her the cash, so she sent Roger to make the plea. The survivors of the Congdon wreck paraded in the streets carrying the ship's flag, and a large crowd fell in behind them (Fort William Daily Times Journal, Nov. 11, 1918). Was the Minneapolis Park Board created to benefit wealthy land owners? Would it be possible to see if she is listed in some reference? She appealed, was let free on bond and, after a year of setbacks and delays, she was finally remanded to Shakopee Womens Prison in Shakopee, Minnesota. He also became interested in agricultural pursuits, making extensive investments in farmlands in the northwest. The cause was arson, but her presence there could not be connected to the crime, and she was not arrested. As a single woman, this bordered on the scandalous, but Elisabeths regrets would have little to do with the social opprobrium her action invited. Sociopaths are rarely so engaging. A Duluth News Tribune 20 Under 40 recipient in 2018, Jane can be found recording a facebook live, laughing in the office, or speeding off to her next big meeting. Here are some wed like to highlight: A member of the Arizona Womens Hall of Fame, Helen Congdon is best known for how deeply she cared for her community. Developed by. Events wouldnt be events without Emma. Dierckins said it was a marketing ploy helped along by the early 1900s version of the Chamber of Commerce the Commercial Club. Glensheens Daughter: The Marjorie Congdon Story. Marjorie Congdon Caldwell with her attorney Ronald Meshbesher. Marjorie Congdons sudden magnetic appeal to men is remarkable in light of the fact that she was in no way conventionally attractive. A traumatic childhood can turn a person into a sociopath. While raising two girls she was an active member on many charitable and civic organization boards. During this time she kept in touch with Chester through letters. They know exactly what theyre doing. Congdon also voted against recall elections, against temperance measures, for limitations on workers going on strike, and for free public transport to policemen and firefighters. "Emerging from ramshackle pioneer villages that attracted the ambitious, hardworking and the well-connected, Duluth evolved into a suburban metropolis between 1890 and 1910," according to a report commissioned by the Duluth Heritage Preservation Commission in the mid-2000s. After a long trial, it took the jury just twenty-four hours to convict Roger Caldwell. The investigators werent buying it. He took over the role from his grandfather, Chester Congdon, who was . Christa Lawler covers Duluth and surrounding areas for the Star Tribune. Whatever the diagnosis revealed was something Elisabeth would never tell anyone. When word reached Jennifer Congdon, Marjorie Congdons younger sister, the first thing she said was, Marjorie did it. But proving that was going to be difficult. Withdrawing further, Marjorie began to act strangely, pulling out her own hair and laugh in an odd manner. When Congdon came to the boomtown known as Duluth in 1892, he entered law practice and became a key figure in iron mining and banking. The responsibility of preserving and celebrating these amazing items is given to Milissa. What happened to them was a nightmare. Builder of Glensheen Mansion. Thats different from a psychopath. Two years later, after having moved to Englewood, Colorado, Marjorie was identified in the vicinity of the First National Bank Building shortly before it caught on fire. I believe my grandfather George Peterson of Duluth may have serviced Glensheen as a plumber. To celebrate they bought an Airstream trailer and traveled the country, eventually settling in Ajo, Arizona, a town of 2,500 persons near the Mexican border. She wanted the money, and she was not content to wait for her inheritance. She was known to be so unassuming and unpretentious that no one will ever know how much she truly gave. Marjorie Congdon became Marjorie LeRoy on June 30th, 1951. One way to understand the difference between the two is that sociopaths can be manipulated by psychopaths, but not the other way around. The state's logging industry a national leader had shifted its operations to northern Minnesota. It was willed by the family to the University of Minnesota. He was also the US Attorney of Minnesota. You cannot fault them for that, but neither should you give them sympathy. Talk to Sally. As a senior, she was the Class Treasurer, a member of the Senior Society of 1906, and Treasurer of the College Settlement Association of 1906. In 1932, Elisabeth, a single woman in her late thirties, adopted a daughter, Jacqueline Barnes and renamed her Marjorie Mannering Congdon. The final resident of the home was Elisabeth Manning Congdon, who was born in 1894. It's one of the most publicized murder cases in Minnesota history. An autopsy subsequently revealed Walter Hagen had died of a drug overdose. I am fascinated by the story of the Congdon family, their triumphs and ways of life! In 2015, a musical titled Glensheen based on the murders was created by Jeffrey Hatcher and Chan Poling.[5]. She was the first president of the Womens Junior League, organizer of Duluths American Red Cross Nurses Aid Committee during WWII. After admission to the bar, Congdon taught school for about a year in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. "We expected to be somewhere on Lake Huron today," said one of the crew, "instead of back again at Fort William" (Fort William Daily Times Journal, Nov. 12, 1918). A concrete and wood boathouse sits along the shore of Lake Superior, and it was the only one known to exist in those days. It appears someone can be born a psychopath, and it also appears that psychopathology can run in families. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. She was a pioneer for underserved communities, founding Arizonas first interracial housing development. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); Edward Bannister, a clergyman of San Francisco, California. At the age of nineteen she emerged as an engaging, charismatic young woman. He studied law under the preceptorship of Hiscock, Gifford & Doheny in Syracuse, and in 1877 was admitted to the New York bar. There is another book that features many pictures and much history. He did a masterful job. Chester Congdon went from being a school teacher in Wisconsin to being the wealthiest Minnesotan at the time of his death in 1916, worth 40 million dollars. Hare, Robert D. Phd. This page was last edited on 20 March 2023, at 22:29. See where The Glensheen Mansion is on the map, I would like to know if my mother In law Jennie L Ives is listed as a servant there. On the death of the judge in 1902, the surviving partners resumed their original title and continued thus until 1904, when both retired from active practice. I adore the Glensheen mansion as well as the Bed and Breakfast named, The Mansion. Two of the Duluth men who were easily such, strenuously objected to being placed on the list.". History of the Chester A. Congdon. Member of the house In 1909. . Sharon D. Hendry, Glensheen's Daughter, The Marjorie Congdon Story, 1998 (10th. Therefore, Lucas Congdon has an estimated net worth of $3 million. He passed the bar and took a job as a high school principal in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. John A. Johnson said to an overflow crowd at Duluth's Lyceum Theatre in 1906. Marjorie got good grades but was considered something of a weirdo by her classmates. Cable Publishing, 2014, Mansion with blood red sky, by Toa Heftiba, Glensheen Mansion exterior, Public domain, Glensheen bedroom where murder took place, Damien Enwhistle, Chester Congdon by Daniel Haas, CC by-SA 4.0, Hallway in Glensheen mansion, Damien Enwhistle, Elisabeth Condon in her eighties, Popular Bio, Staircase landing at Glensheen, Damien Enwhistle, Roger Caldwell mugshot, John DeSanto, Zenith City Press, Marjorie Congdon Caldwell walking with attorney, Art Hagen, Minneapolis Start Tribume, Candleholders on nightstand in murder bedroom, Hansen Family blog, Marjorie Congdon mug shot, Pima County Sheriffs Office, Smiling Marjorie in her seventies, Arizona Department of Corrections, Lake Superior shoreline, by Taylor Friehl. Marjorie pleaded guilty to the crime of forgery and was given probation. They care nothing about anyone else, although they are often good at making it seem as if they do. Now Clara took on an entirely new leadership role as a mother, and also as head of the estate. This blog post is to highlight some of the amazing and memorable accomplishments of the women who were . When Congdon came to the boomtown known as Duluth in 1892, he entered law . The reason why they dont talk about the murders on the tour isnt because they are trying to hide it, its because murder is a horrendous thing to happen and not everyone wants to hear about it. Could you let me know. The beauty and style is unsurpassed. They never suspected what was about to happen. In the public schools of Elmira and Corning, New York, Congdon acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in the East Genesee Conference Seminary at Ovid, New York. Added to this is his successful YouTube channel, where he showcases his work and designs with the objective of allowing people to learn how to best make use of their own spaces. The literature has noted cases where children demonstrate psychopathic behaviors as early as age two, and in environments that are perfectly sound. The 1902 editorial from the News-Tribune appears to be in response to the millionaires list. In 1892, Congdon moved from St. Paul to Duluth and partnered with William W. Billson to form the law firm Billson & Congdon. Chester Adgate Congdon Chester Adgate Congdon (June 12, 1853 - November 21, 1916) was a lawyer and capitalist. The motive was initially unclear because few valuables were looted from the room. These days few Americans find it cynical to observe that our justice system is vulnerable to the influences of wealth and celebrity. "It's a promotional thing," he said. Ice cream aficionado. Required fields are marked *. The estate featured a turn-of-the-century mansion, hot water, electricity, and grounds irrigated from nearby Tischer Creek. If Marjorie couldnt have it, nobody would. Today Glensheen is open to the public for various tours, weddings, and events, all of the awesomeness that happens at Glensheen requires an equally awesome staff. Her journal is filled with various notes and reminders along with parental worries such as childhood diseases. Psychopaths are born without consciences, the way some people are born without sight or sound. I have been to the Glensheen and It was awesome I would gladly do it again! In his suicide note he claimed he was innocent of killing Elisabeth Congdon. As you tour the grounds, you will see the Congdons lived a lifestyle unknown to most. He used to call her, My Angel., Psychotics are not the same thing as psychopaths, but for a whole generation of people theres only one way to be psycho. The shores of Lake Superior near Glensheen Mansion. Walter Van Brunt. Still, its a little awkward when youre standing in the bedroom where Elisabeth Congdon was murdered with a satin pillow over her face, and its not even mentioned. As word of Duluth's millionaires was gathering momentum, Congdon was building his $854,000 Jacobean mansion, Glensheen. After her elder sister moved out of the mansion, Elisabeth took over her room as it was bigger. Velmas body was as cold as concrete. Contemporary accounts labeled Congdon the largest loss ever sustained on the Great Lakes, surpassing the loss of Henry B. Smith, wrecked in 1913 (Lake Carriers Association, 1918:138; Canadian Railway and Marine World, 1918:567; Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nov. 10, 1918). Melissa Venema. The nurse picked up a corner and peeked underneath. Chester Congdon, an East Coast transplant and lawyer for Oliver Mining who was an investor in the Mesabi Iron Range, must have been left off. Some of these names resonate in northern Minnesota more than a century later. This Guild provided space, instruction and advocacy for women artists in the city. Their work includes the lights in Chesters Den with lily motifs, and the beautiful ceiling light in the Breakfast room. Chester Congdon went from being a school teacher in Wisconsin to being the wealthiest Minnesotan at the time of his death in 1916, worth 40 million dollars. 800 East Lakeshore Drive Marjorie Congdon had married Roger Caldwell, and they planned to break into the mansion. In fact, the Congdon family was one of the most accomplished, distinguished and generous in Minnesota. The 1909 Legislature was dominated by the tonnage tax, which would place a tax on all iron ore shipped out of state by companies that did not manufacture steel in Minnesota. When Marjorie was sixteen, Elisabeth sent her away to a boarding school in New England. As a result, no autopsy was possible. Rookwood was renowned for its stunning designs painted onto pottery. Developed by Prime Marketing Exposition, @2022 - 2022 - All Right Reserved. They are cold-hearted, deceitful, manipulative, and cruel. She was charming and talkative. "As a reference librarian I always wish I had the definitive answer, but not this time.". He was a prominent figure in the development of the mining industry in northern Minnesota, and served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1909 until 1913. Marjorie was the "black sheep" of the family, as she constantly borrowed money from her mother and married numerous times. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; An iron candlestick holder lay discarded nearby. Grandchildren: Charles and Jacklyn Fisher, Jenna and Andrew Crowell, and Catherine and Sarah Johnson. A nineteenth century masterpiece of hand-carved oak, stained glass, damask wall coverings and handmade rugs, it sits on twelve acres of land that slopes gently to the shores of Lake Superior. Although the owners carried insurance of $365,000 on the hull and $369,400 in disbursements, the wheat cargo alone at $2.35 per bushel was worth $893,000 (Lake Carriers Association, 1918:143). For the 2015 Holiday Season, they introduced A Glensheen Self-Guided Christmas Tour. The source went on to say that there were at least eight, possibly 10 millionaires living in Duluth at the time and that it would be hard to find as many in a similarly sized western town. Need tickets? The construction of the great Glensheen Mansion began in 1905 and was completed in 1908. By He was a member of various professional, historical, scientific, social, and fraternal societies and associations. In the meantime, Congdon had extended his efforts to various lines of commercial, industrial, and financial enterprise in Duluth. They turned him down flat. Compulsive spending was Marjorie Congdons modus operandi. Houghton, Good luck and enjoy your stay in the cooler weather! More time passes before anything happens. In his will Chester Congdon bequeathed his home and fortune to his wife and children, and by succession to his grandchildren. Chester Congdon, an East Coast transplant and lawyer for Oliver Mining who was an investor in the Mesabi Iron Range, must have been left off. In 1879, he went to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he was admitted to the Minnesota bar and there established himself in the practice of law. She wasnt there long. He was buried at burial place, California. Back at home, her third husband, Walter Hagen, was delighted at her return. For a woman whose motivation appeared to be greed, this might have come as a disappointment. She and the family agree to help support Chester's intentions. The 39 room Jacobean mansion was the most affluent home in Duluth at the time, and is considered so today. He committed suicide on May 18, 1988. History has done a fine job of remembering Chester and his accomplishments as a lawyer, investor, and politician. 1923, "Congdon, Chester Adgate - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present", "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Condray to Conkright", Glensheen Historic Estate, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Chester A. Congdon in MNopedia, the Minnesota Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chester_Adgate_Congdon&oldid=1147443792, Walter Bannister Congdon (November 5, 1882 October 20, 1949), Edward Chester Congdon (May 20, 1885 November 27, 1940), Marjorie Congdon (Dudley) (January 12, 1887 October 11, 1971), Helen Clara Congdon (d'Autremont) (February 16, 1889 May 19, 1966), John Congdon (May 21, 1891 May 19, 1893), Robert Congdon (September 4, 1898 June 12, 1975), History of the Yakima Valley, Washington: comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton counties / by W.D. Marjories problem wasnt caused by others. But Marjorie had something going for her that Roger didnt. This blog post is to highlight some of the amazing and memorable accomplishments of the women who were connected to Glensheen in some way. This team led the case's investigation and successful prosecution of Roger Caldwell, Congdon's son-in-law, in the most notorious double murder in Minnesota history. Helen served on the Mayors Committee on Human Relations, the boards for the Association for Papago Affairs, the NAACP, and the YWCA. It might help visitors better understand Marjories behavior, and raise awareness about these dangerous people among us. Emma is your go-to-gal for bringing events to Glensheen. ". He never got any of the promised money from Marjorie. Chester Congdon was born in Rochester, New York, on June 12, 1853, as the son of Sylvester Laurentius and Laura Jane (ne Adgate) Congdon. They married two months later. "Not long ago a New York institution that issues a compendium of information each year wrote to a Duluth man to forward a list of the Duluth millionaires. At the end of the 19th century, Duluth was ascendant as one of the country's major industrial hubs. Chester and Clara would later bring Clara's nephew Alfred Bannister to live with them after he was orphaned at the age of six. js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=180027192065175"; On March 8th, 1920 the family agrees to donate $125,000 towards the paving of the "Congdon Memorial Boulevard". In January 2004 Marjorie Congdon was released from prison after serving ten years of her fifteen year sentence for arson. When it comes to rockstars, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington are two of the most epic figures to rise to prominence in the last 30 years. Chester Adgate Congdon was a go-getter. Its one of Americas great houses. She was introverted and spent most of her time reading alone or playing by herself in the nooks and crannies of the vast mansion. 49931, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. He was the general counsel of the Oliver Mining Company before its consolidation with other companies (now forming the United States Steel Corporation), the president of the Chemung Iron Company and the Canisteo Mining Company, and the vice-president of the American Exchange National Bank of Duluth. Then, on June 27th, 1977, the unthinkable happened. They win people over, before bending them to their will. It turned out the prison authorities loved her. The medal was for excellence in humane and cultural pursuits., The oldest daughter of the Congdon family, Marjorie was known to be more soft spoken than many of her siblings, and she carried with her a calm presence. He was a close student of government and state policies, a foe of waste and inefficiency, a friend of political progress as he saw it, a champion of clean public life and sound government. Children of her third husband's first marriage suspect that she was involved in the unexpected death of Mr. Hagen's first wife. It's not true. I fell in love with this place!! He was treated for a possible heart attack but released after doctors couldnt determine the cause of his illness. Milissa has been Glensheens collection manager for just over few years and she is killing the game. Chester A. Congdon, 1909. To control that wealth mustve been very enticing to someone like Marjorie. Dumbest of all, a rare Byzantine coin that had been taken from Elisabeths Congdons room on the night of the murders turned up in Roger Caldwells home in Golden, Colorado. Marjorie kept on spending, writing bad checks and driving her new husband deeper and deeper into debt. They raised seven children at Glensheen, and were influential in opening up iron mining in the region and designating land for public use in Duluth and along the North Shore. Yet she destroyed the lives of all those around her. No one is born a sociopath. Along with his pro-brewery group of politicians, he was aligned with stopping a vote on ending child labor. Marjorie was released from Arizona State Prison on January 5, 2004. Thats when Marjorie got an idea. Additionally, he was a director in the Calumet & Arizona Mining Company of Bisbee, Arizona, the Hedley Gold Mining Company, William Cornell Greene's Greene Cananea Copper Company, the Marshall-Wells Hardware Company, the Gowan-Lenning-Brown Company, and various other banking, mining and jobbing enterprises which claimed his attention and profited by his cooperation and direction. Who was Hennepin and why did Minnesota name so many things after him. But psychopaths are not greedy in the same way sociopaths are. He was chair of the Reapportionment (Redistricting) Committee. She didnt stop there; she then used her own funds to cover the closing costs of homes for families. The landing where Velma Pietila was bludgeoned to death with a candle holder. Sally holds down the fort in the ticket house at Glensheen. We sold it.. For the ship named after him, see, Duluth and St. Louis County, Minnesota; Their Story and People: An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic and Social Development, Volume 3. }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); @2022 - 2022 - All Right Reserved. Congdon was re-elected for the 1911 Legislature. However, that didnt mean she didnt want children. While she lived there she adopted her two daughters and raised them in the Congdon mansion. Elisabeth Congdon was born to mining magnate Chester Adgate Congdon, and his wife, Clara Hesperia Bannister Congdon on April 22, 1894 in Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, USA. Marjories mother and the rest of the Congdon family put their foot down and refused to send her money to bail her out. If you have a question, Lauren is probably your gal. Psychopaths are at their most dangerous when their manipulations are thwarted. Chester A. Congdon of Duluth, a member of the house, and It is as follows: Chester A. Congdon, Republican, born June 12, 1853. They dazzle and captivate. Overall, America's rich just keep getting richer -- thanks . Dissatisfied, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota with $31 in his pocket, passed the Minnesota bar, and joined a law firm. The bedroom where Elisabeth Congdon was murdered. Some psychopaths are highly successful, exercising wealth and power, but no less dangerous for all that. He and his wife climbed the grand staircase to the third floor, where he showed her the. Chester and Clara Congdon built Glensheen between 1905 and 1908 as their family home. She took her pulse. "Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings" by Gail Feichtinger; 2005. The boundaries were drawn in such a way to ensure more political power to the steel industry and those against the tonnage tax. Not sure if she was married to my father In law than. After Chester passed in 1916, Clara took her time to mourn and then we see her humanitarian efforts begin to increase.