An idyllic wilderness, an Idyl Wilde, Idle Wild, Idylwilde, Idlewild. Different spellings, same meaning. The first mention of Idlewild, in 1906, spelled it phonetically “Eydl-wilde.”
Mrs. Ella Van Bramer has named her colony of tents in the hills, Eydlwilde. It is located just beyond the second canon, about three miles this side of the Forks. Mrs. Van Bramer is fixing it up in rather artistic style and it will be vastly popular with the Loveland folk during the summer.11906-06-14 – Loveland Register – Ella Van Bramer Names Idlewild
Loveland Register – June 14, 1906
The first advertisement for Ella Van Bramer’s resort used the phonetic spelling again, but with a letter “i” instead of an “e”, “Iydlewilde” instead of “Eydlewilde.”
The first advertisement for Ella Van Bramer’s “Iydlewilde” Summer Resort. The spelling of “Iydlewilde” is very similar to the phonetic spelling from the previous month of “Eydlewilde” with the letter “i” substituted for the letter “e.”21906-06-21 – The Loveland Register – First Advertisement For Idlewild From the Loveland Register, June 21st, 1906.
A year later, the spelling used today, “Idlewild”, was used.
Word was phoned over from Loveland this morning that B. F. Smith, who lives at Idlewild, near Drake, in the Big thompson canon, nearly cut his foot off while chopping wood with an axe at an early hour today.31907-04-17 – Fort Collins Courier – B F Smith Axe Incident At Idlewild
Fort Collins Courier – April 17, 1907
However, that very year, the spelling was interchanged with “Idylwild”, a spelling that hints at its “idyllic” root word.
Mrs. Van Bramer returned to Idylwild on Tuesday of last week.41907-07-10 – Fort Collins Courier – Ella Van Bramer At Idylwild
Fort Collins Courier – July 10, 1907
The Misses Frances Van Bramer of Idylwild, Edith Davis and Jennie Mulvaney of Loveland, and Hannah, Clara, and Dora Boden climbed Jacob’s Ladder at five o’clock Friday morning. Then the Loveland girls went home.51908-06-18 – The Mountaineer – Frances Van Bramer Of Idylwild
Mountaineer – June 18, 1908
In the year 1910 Ella wanted to create a subdivision of her homestead and filed the sub-division plat shown below.
IDLE WILD Subdivision Plat c. 1910.61910-08-09 – Idlewild Subdivision Blueprint Plat
Closeup of the subdivision plat c. 1910.
Within this document Ella designates that the sub-divion will be named “IDLE WILD.” This spelling and format is, in my opinion, the purest and most canonical. However, despite the officiality of this document, Idlewild would continue to be referred to by different names and spellings.
After Harvey Witwer purchased the property the spelling of “Idylwilde” was used, which goes further by hinting at the root word “wilderness.”
L. B. Tucker and Mr. Swope are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Witwer at Idylwilde on the Thompson for a few days.71912-08-01 – The Greeley Tribune – L B Tucker and Swope Visit Idylwilde
Greeley Tribune – August 1, 1912
However when Harvey sold the property he reverted back to the present day spelling of “Idlewild” once again.
My friend, H. W. Witner [Witwer] from Greeley, has placed in my hands for quick disposal, his summer resort and stock ranch property, known as “Idlewild.” Three well furnished cottages; one two-story cottage has bath and spring water piped into house; 160 acres fine pasture land with barn. Will sell separately or altogether. Make good home or paying summer property. A real bargain (Rev.) J. E. LYNN, Phone Love. 189 4-3-6t81918-04-04 – Loveland Daily Herald – Harvey Witwer Puts Idlewild For Sale
Loveland Daily Herald – April 4, 1918
After George Dauth bought the Idlewild Lodge in 1920 there as a brief time when the lodge was named the Idle-A-While Lodge. A word play to encourage visitors to idle-a-while and stay at the lodge.
Idlewild Lodge with the IDLEAWHILE sign, taken 1921 by Elizabeth Dauth.91921 – Unknown Person In Front Of Idlewild Lodge With The IDLEAWHILE Sign
Another view of the Idlewild Lodge with the “IDLEAWHILE” sign. Taken in 1921.101921 – Closeup Of Idlewild Lodge Facade With The IDLEAWHILE Sign
Full facade of Idlewild Lodge with the IDLEAWHILE sign. Taken in 1921.111921 – Front Facade Of Idlewild Lodge With The IDLEAWHILE Sign
Soon after, George replaced the “IDLEAWHILE” sign with the “IDLE WILD” sign that matched Ella Van Bramer’s subdivision naming and format.
Earliest photo of Idlewild Lodge with the “Idle Wild” sign on its facade. Taken c. 1930s. This sign still adorns Idlewild Lodge one hundred years later.12Circa 1930s – Idlewild Lodge Facade With The Idle Wild Sign
In 1925 the City of Loveland completed the Idylwilde Hydroelectric Project naming the project based on its vicinity to the Idlewild subdivision. The project officially used the spelling “Idylwilde” and named various project structures using that spelling including “Idylwilde Dam” and “Idylwilde Reservoir.”132013 – Idylwilde Hydro Facility License Surrender
Idlewild History
Harding Heights
In the mid 1920s a new subdivision called Harding Heights would be partitioned off from the original Idlewild homestead. This would lead to the name of Harding Heights being used interchangeably with the Idlewild area until the 1940s.
In the 1950s and 1960s Leslie and Ann Dauth advertised the Idlewild Lodge using both “Idle Wild” and “Idlewild” spellings.
An advertisement for Idlewild Lodge made by Ann Jeremiassen, wife of Leslie Dauth. c. 1950-1960. The spelling of “Idlewild” is used.14Circa 1950-1960 – Advertisement for Idlewild Lodge
Idlewild Business Card given out to guests. c. 1950-1960. The spelling of “Idle Wild” is used.15Circa 1950-1960 – Business Card for Idlewild Lodge
In 2006 the Idlewild community was asked to provide a new name for the road that bisects the subdivision, previously referred to as 1372 Big Thompson Canyon. A petition was made to use the name, format, and spelling of “Idlewild Lane” which was passed by a majority vote in June 2006.
Confirmation of Road Name Reservation to change the neighborhood road name to “Idlewild Lane”162006-06-21 – Idlewild Subdivision Road Name Change
MLA Format
Idlewild Lodge. "The Many Names of Idlewild." Idlewild Lodge, Dauth Family Archive, 30 Mar. 2021, https://idlewildlodge.github.io/the-many-names-of-idlewild/. Accessed 4 Jul. 2023.
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APA Format
Idlewild Lodge. (2021, March 30) The Many Names of Idlewild. Retrieved July 4, 2023, from https://idlewildlodge.github.io/the-many-names-of-idlewild/.
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Chicago Format
Idlewild Lodge. "The Many Names of Idlewild." Idlewild Lodge. Dauth Family Archive, March 30, 2021. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://idlewildlodge.github.io/the-many-names-of-idlewild/.
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