In October of 1921 George Dauth sold part of Idlewild Lot 2 to the Albert James Luther family.
Geo. Dauth to A. J. Luther, $10, part L 2, Idlewild Subdiv. Sec. 1-5-7111921-10-25 – The Loveland Reporter – George Dauth Sells Idlewild Lot 2 To Albert Luther
Loveland Reporter – October 25, 1921
The Luther’s built a cabin there, and named it the DAM’FINO. One of Albert Luther’s sons, Lawton, wrote a piece for the Greeley Journal detailing how their cabin came upon the name.21977-09-14 – Lawton Luther DAMFINO Article – 1977 Version31987-12-24 – Lawton Luther DAMFINO Article – 1987 Version – Page 141987-12-24 – Lawton Luther DAMFINO Article – 1987 Version – Page 2
“The most memorable day in the early 1920’s was that day my mother received a long distance phone call from a Nebraska preacher. He wanted to know if we ever rented out our mountain cabin located at Idlewild up the Big Thompson River. Her answer was, ‘Yes, indeed.’
“Upon hearing that, the preacher said he and his wife would like to rent the cabin for a week or two, and then plied mother with a fist full of questions such as how to get there, rental costs, what to bring, and finally asked if we had a name for the cabin.”
“Mother, of course, answered all of his questions, right down to the title of the cabin- ‘DAM’FINO.’ After a short pause the preacher asked again, ‘What did you say the name was?’ ‘DAM’FINO,’ replied mother, and then told him how come we gave the cabin such a name. The story:
Looking south at DAM’FINO c. 1930. The DAM’FINO sign visible over the facade.5Circa 1930 – DAMFINO Facade
“A year or so before we built the cabin the four of us, Mom, Dad, Albert and I, saw comedian Buster Keaton in a movie titled ‘DAM’FINO,’ a tale of his problems and troubles in a small boat lost in a rough hurricane type tumbling sea. His boat was named DAM’FINO, too.”
Buster Keaton’s “The Boat” – Launching the DAMFINO.6Keaton, Buster. (Director). (1921). The Boat [Film]. First National Pictures.
“His SOS calls to the Coast Guard and all ships at sea gained him no help because all of their queries is to his location, name of boat, type of boat, and so on were answered by the words DAM’FINO. A sailor he wasn’t. He even went so far as to bore holes in the bottom of the boat to let the sea water flooding the boat to get out.”
Buster Keaton’s “The Boat” – Who is it?… DAMFINO.7Keaton, Buster. (Director). (1921). The Boat [Film]. First National Pictures.
“I don’t remember how the picture ended, but we used the title because it best described our love and feelings about the cabin- DAM’FINO- a good place to go to and get away from the everyday rat race.”
Buster Keaton’s “The Boat” – Where are we?… DAM’FINO.8Keaton, Buster. (Director). (1921). The Boat [Film]. First National Pictures.
“After mother’s death, Dad sold the house and lot to Les Dauth and family, who remodeled the place and gave it a new title. It is now named ‘The Little Brown palace.’ The DAM’FINO sign, Les has hanging in front of another of the cabins the Dauths still own.”
Lawton W. Luther
The Greeley Journal, September 14 197791977-09-14 – Lawton Luther DAMFINO Article – 1977 Version101987-12-24 – Lawton Luther DAMFINO Article – 1987 Version – Page 1111987-12-24 – Lawton Luther DAMFINO Article – 1987 Version – Page 2
Looking south at DAM’FINO from across the Big Thompson c. 1930.12Circa 1930 – DAMFINO From Across Big Thompson River
MLA Format
Idlewild Lodge. "DAM’FINO." Idlewild Lodge, Dauth Family Archive, 31 Mar. 2021, https://idlewildlodge.github.io/damfino/. Accessed 4 Jul. 2023.
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APA Format
Idlewild Lodge. (2021, March 31) DAM’FINO. Retrieved July 4, 2023, from https://idlewildlodge.github.io/damfino/.
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Chicago Format
Idlewild Lodge. "DAM’FINO." Idlewild Lodge. Dauth Family Archive, March 31, 2021. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://idlewildlodge.github.io/damfino/.
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