Finding Red Feather Lakes
by Carolyn Burton
My parents, two sisters and I came to Red Feather Lakes in 1947 for the first time. The Red Feather Lakes Road was a narrow, twisting gravel road that went through mountain streams and had to be filled with rocks in order to drive through. We wondered what we were getting into.
Mother had heard about Red Feather Lakes on a radio show out of KFAB called “Homemaker Of the Air”. This daily show was from Red Feather Lakes in Colorado. The star was Jessie Young who owned “Hilltop” General Store in Red Feather Lakes. She told about her family, the mountains–plus gave household advice and recipes. Her program was one of Mother’s favorites each day, and she wanted to check this mountain out. My father agreed to it, so our vacation was to see Colorado that year on our way to the Black Hills.
While father was reluctant at first, he found that the area reminded him of his home in Sweden. It was “Love at first sight.” He bought a lot on Leticia Lake his second day here with hopes of building a cabin, and from that day on, he only vacationed here. Dad was an avid fly fisherman, so this was a dream come true. They also found there were some Omaha, Nebraska, friends here. Their friends happened to be from their church in Omaha and had been coming to Red Feather Lakes for several years–much to my parents’ surprise. There wasn’t a church here at that time, but their old and new friends would visit churches in the area on Sundays and then come back to Red Feather for soup at the Pot Belly or dinner at Cherokee Park restaurant.
These friends were from various religous denominations (e.g., Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic). They enjoyed worshiping together and learning how much in common they shared in their faith and worship. They all shared an active social life in Red Feather Lakes–cards, bingo on Saturday night, wiener roasts at area fire pits, but most of all, their worshipping together on Sundays.
Byron Swanson, then a theological student, encouraged the community to develop a local Interdenominational church in the area. Reverend Don Watkins of the Presbyterian Church, a traveling minister, also encouraged this idea. By 1962 a church building was under construction with the help of donations and land, and the idea became a reality. Chapel in the Pines, an interdenominational church, was built and paid for in one year.
Bill Burton, my husband, and I moved here in 1988 and joined the Chapel and choir in less than a month. At that time, the Chapel was open from Memorial Day through September. We became a year-round church in September 1995 with an average of 35-40 people attending weekly in the winter. We kept and still keep the concept of weekly visiting pastors from various denominations.
In the past, we had an active choir with as many as 26 members and weekly guest musicians in the summers. Since 1989, we have added a Memorial Garden for interment of deceased Chapel in the Pines members as well as some affiliated local residents. This has been enlarged several times. We host many events in the community such as weddings, memorials, celebrations and community events.
We as a Chapel membership are into our third generation of some members and are proud of its role in this community of Red Feather Lakes, Beaver Meadows, Fox Acres, Glacier View, Livermore, etc. Our role is to be open and welcoming to all who believe in and worship God the Father, Jesus Christ Son of God and Son of Man, the Holy Spirit who is forever present in all our lives.
The Chapel also sponsors and maintains the “Thrift Shop” which sells usable clothing and items. The income from the Thrift Shop is part of our benevolence to this community. The building was formerly used as a church and school, then was donated by the owner to the Chapel to be used as the Community Thrift Shop. This facility serves a purpose to both the people needing a place to donate usable items that are made available to needs in the community as well as earning money to help with residents and others in our mountain area.
Emergencies happen and what a good place to find warm clothing and household items after or during an emergency!
The Thrift Shop idea began by an early Chapel member in her garage in order to earn money to help pay for the original Chapel in the Pines. An annual bazaar was also held the first Saturday of August every year. This included a chicken dinner. The bazaar continued off and on until 2020.
Past-Present-Future
By Carolyn Burton
When asked to fill the position as President of the Chapel I said, “Who me?” then “Why me?” “That is not what I do, I’m a behind-the-scenes type of person, the picker-upper, the fixer, the helper.” “I didn’t need to be a leader anymore – I was retired!” I was not aware that I was recognized as a leader. The answers to my questions surprised me because my peers saw my efforts. The answer was “because you love the Chapel and its family.” That was a big WOW! Because of that love/caring, I accepted the job with the promise to help with whatever was needed.
My Chapel love affair began in 1962 when my parents told us about future plans in their Red Feather vacation community for the “Chapel in the Pines.” It would be a place of worship for both of them as it would be a “Church of all denominations.” Though they were both Lutherans, but Dad used to say he was still a “Baptist at heart.” They gave of their time and talents to help bring this building to fruition. From that time on they would worship together in love and fellowship with their diverse Red Feather Friends. The Chapel held services from Memorial Day weekend through September. Many of the Chapel friends continued their fellowship after they returned to their homes in the fall. What joys they shared!
When Bill and I retired and moved here full-time in the Spring of 1988, we were the 2nd generation–as were some of our friends. We naturally took our place in the Chapel pews, and it didn’t take long before we were in Kathryn George’s choir. The Chapel soon felt like home to us. It was a continuation of our past church life as well as a family tradition now. Whenever we would visit other churches in our travels we felt welcomed but we would return home to the Chapel and take a deep breath of affirmation, “We are home.” Now our children and grandchildren are expressing these same feelings as they return to Red Feather and look upon the Chapel as their church home away from home.
In 1994 our Chapel peers felt a need to continue to worship together year-round, “even if we had to meet in our homes.” As you know, that wasn’t necessary–we met at church weekly throughout the winter, and our group of 30 or more were able to pay their own way that winter. Out of this group, we formed a long-range planning committee in August of ‘95. This group tried to look ahead 10 years and make an assessment of what programs and facilities should be in place by 2005. The focus was diverted toward a vision we saw for the future of the Chapel which might also include a Fellowship Hall. This group continued to meet through 2000. Today those same people plus many more make up the building and fundraising committee.
Much has evolved: Men & Women’s Weekly Bible Study groups, a Pastoral ministry for 2 years, a year-round choir with directors and musicians, Constitutional review, and obviously the coming Fellowship Hall which will provide the place to continue and expand our ministry near and far, including Sunday school for young and old, continuing our Christian education.
This is an exciting time for all of us. It is no wonder my love for the Chapel and all that it encompasses continues!
Our chapel enjoyed wonderful fundraising dinners last fall and this spring at which time we raised money, yes, but the fellowship surpassed that money. Learning new dance steps from Lori Miller was a highlight, as well as a return to the past by repeating the “Chapel Bazaar”. This event occurred the first weekend of August and lasted three days for several years in the ‘60s. We had a one-day affair this year, and through the help of many, we raised over $7,000. We are still uncertain about a repeat next year. The Chapel will continue to have these fun events in which we seek to include the entire community of Red Feather. The monies earned have helped pay off the Chapel building loan and also the parsonage.
We have had a constitution committee this past year. The committee was formed out of the year 2000 Annual Meeting. These individuals spent hundreds of hours reviewing, revising, clarifying and recommending. The recommended revised Constitution and bylaws came to a vote at a Congregational meeting on August 12 at which time it would need a two-thirds vote of the membership to pass. The members were 42 for and 27 against – 69 voting members were present. I want to thank all of the committee members for their dedication and hours spent in this endeavor. What all of this did, I believe, was cause our congregation to reassess and validate what they want for and from their church. Anytime we are caused to reflect and reexamine, the experience can only be a positive one.
In reviewing, I am truly amazed at what has taken place at our Chapel since 1962. A group of summer vacationers with varied church backgrounds put aside their differences to come together as Christians to worship their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a simple building that protected them from the elements. As we move ahead in our Chapel life together, let us thank them for this legacy and carry on the message of Christ’s love as we build and grow into the future.
Carolyn Burton
Chapel President
Addendum
In the future, I will be much briefer. Thanks for listening.