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1. 1 2016-03-13T11:13:16-07:00 Jessica Precht and Jessica Scott ad97e8f052daf68272a058c17affce0374d09fc7 Cragmor Sanatorium Jessica Precht and Jessica Scott 20 image_header 2016-04-27T11:01:48-07:00 Jessica Precht and Jessica Scott ad97e8f052daf68272a058c17affce0374d09fc7
2. 1 2016-03-13T11:15:19-07:00 Jessica Precht and Jessica Scott ad97e8f052daf68272a058c17affce0374d09fc7 Cragmor Photo Gallery Jessica Precht and Jessica Scott 16 structured_gallery 251179 2016-04-28T11:54:10-07:00 Jessica Precht and Jessica Scott ad97e8f052daf68272a058c17affce0374d09fc7

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• 1 2016-03-13T11:13:16-07:00 Cragmor Sanatorium 21 image_header 2016-04-27T11:02:44-07:00 Cragmor Sanatorium was a first-class sanatorium dreamed up in the mind of a man named Dr. Edwin Solly. He arrived in the United States in 1874 aspiring to build a significant cure home for tuberculosis; an ideal sanatorium that was spacious, innovative and bold. But not just that, he wanted to cater to the wealthy and have national reputation as a health resort. He sought to build a closed sanatorium, a cottage colony, and have a full resident staff comprising of capable physicians, but they would only admit curable patients who suffered strictly from pulmonary TB. Before his dream could be realized, though, the construction of the noteworthy sanatorium would come across many obstacles.
  
  
  
  It wasn't until 1901 that Solly finally asked for help in order to see his estimated $300,000 to $350,000 vision come to life. Colorado Springs' founder, General William J. Palmer, donated 100 acres of land and an initial $50,000 to the building fund in 1902 to get the plan rolling. Thomas MacLaren was recruited as the lead architect in the massive project, but his estimate for such a high-class, open-air concept exceeded Solly's estimate nearly double. In 1904, however, MacLaren modified his original plans and drastically reduced the estimated cost.  In total, eight plans for the sanatorium were adopted, modified and aborted. The original plan for a main building was finally shelved and the decision to just build several small pavilions was made. Construction finally began in the spring of 1904, but more delays ensued and it wasn't until June 20, 1905, that the doors of Cragmor, consisting of three large pavilions and several small cottages to accommodate 25 patients, were finally opened. 
  
  
• 1 media/Cragmor in Snow 1.jpg 2016-04-11T11:55:27-07:00 Main Building 19 Main Building image_header 2016-05-01T13:36:08-07:00 Main Building
  Cragmor was ready to take on more patients and needed a centerpiece for their health resort. By the end of 1912, Dr. Forster had received enough donations from grateful patients to construct the main building. Thomas MacLaren, and his original Sun Palace design were ignored and instead Forster brought in an architect by the name of George Edward Barton to design the building. His design was called the Maltese cross.
  
  Construction was scheduled to begin in 1913, but before ground was broken, Barton's health declined and he passed away. It was decided anyways that Barton's design was just too costly, so MacLaren was brought back into the picture. Cragmor Palace II was born, but in 1914 the bids for the new building were so low they immediately extended the intended length of the building. The plan sounded great! But for some reason, it just faded away.
  
  In the end, a three-story structure of Spanish design that cost $80,000 was built. It was completed in October of 1914 and increased the patient capacity to sixty. Since there was no extra money to incorporate the extravagant rooms, reception hall or tennis courts, MacLaren added an elegant touch of his own: the only roof garden in Colorado Springs. 
  
  In August of 1919 a new three-story addition southwest of the main building was approved for another $80,000, but ground was never broken. In February of 1920, however, construction of a fourth floor to the main building began instead which increased patient capacity to 105.
  
  
  
  There were many other additions to the main building that helped improve the patient’s livelihood. These additions include a library, a barber shop and beauty salon, a post office, combination grocery and drug store and its own school.