A memoir of murder, madness, and the messenger of spring at. Halfway through his sixtythird year, chester adgate congdon was. Secrets of the congdon mansion by joe kimball goodreads. Clickthrough to learn more about duluths infamous congdon family see more. May 16, 2017 glensheen, the historic congdon estate. See the rules and procedures for researchers using archival records and secured collections policy. Elisabeth congdon, an heiress beloved in her community, is found smothered in her bed. The congdon family tragedy splashed across the headlines of every newspaper in minnesota.
The congdon name is indelibly linked with the glensheen historic estate in duluth, minnesota. Genealogy for robert congdon 1898 1975 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Elisabeth congdons other daughter, jennifer johnson, has died. The true story behind the crimes and trials surrounding the glensheen killings feichtinger, gail, desanto, john, waller, gary on. A memoir of murder, madness, and the messenger of spring, tells the story of the congdon family of duluth from the authors personal experience. Join facebook to connect with robert congdon and others you may know. On november 21, his heart swelled, producing a pulmonary embolism. It was named after the prominent duluth lawyer and entrepreneur who had made his fortune in mining and grain interests. That february he addressed the mens club of duluths methodist episcopal church, where his family attended services. Glensheen, the historic congdon estate is a 20,000 square foot mansion in duluth, minnesota. Glensheen also sells the will to murder book in its gift shop, and its authors have given. Construction ended in february 1908 the family had moved in a few months prior. Listing 1141 to 1150 of 3010 past services and obituaries. Hagen went to court in arizona, trying to get off intensive probation so she could move into.
The last surviving central figure in the famous congdon murder case the 1977 murders of duluth heiress elisabeth congdon and her night nurse hagen has spent many of the past 31 years in. Twists, turns never end for congdon murder case figure minnpost. But what really happened on that fateful night at the glensheen mansion. May 20, 1985 the bestselling book about the congdon murders in duluth, minn. In 1979, two years after elisabeths death, the mansion opened to the public. What an amazing transformation in the fortunes of mr. Marjorie congdon hagens in the news again minnpost.
Box 10 is stored at an offsite facility and therefore may not be available on a sameday basis. It was in 1968 that the congdon family gave its duluth estate. Full text of the congdon chronicle internet archive. Glensheen director dan hartman talks about a congdon family portrait. Writer joe kimball talks about his book secrets of the congdon mansion.
The first notice we find of benjamin congdon from whom we are descended, is in the records of portsmouth, r. The night nurse, velma pietila, was beaten to death with a. She was the sixth of their children and the first born in duluth, the family having moved to the zenith city from st. In 1840 there were 69 congdon families living in rhode island. Afterward, she stopped visiting roger in jail and, in 1981, married an old family friend, wally hagen. Elisabeth mannering congdon was born to chester and clara congdon on this day in 1894. Notorious congdon murders retold as new musical glensheen.
It was in 1968 that the congdon family gave its duluth estate glensheen to the university of minnesota duluth so the congdon legacy would live on. Reporter joe kimball, who has covered the case from the beginning, reveals the inside information behind the murder of elisabeth congdon, who was smothered in her bed in the 39room glensheen mansion. On the death of the judge in 1902 the surviving partners resumed their original title and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading glensheens daughter.
The night of june 27, 1977, roger broke into glensheen to burgle the 39room mansion on lake superior that belonged to marjories mother, 83yearold duluth heiress elisabeth congdon. Congdon family comes back to glensheen on a recent day, glensheen stopped being a museum and came alive again with the sound of the congdon family s conversation and laughter. Oct 03, 2017 glensheen, the historic congdon estate. Available in the glensheen gift shop, book stores, online and as. Jenna bush hagers read with jenna pick for the month of january was dear edward, by ann napolitano. Instead, they elaborated on the estate and the philanthropic nature of the congdon family. Congdon family comes back to glensheen duluth news tribune. Her night nurse has been bludgeoned to death with a candlestick. Genealogy profile for elisabeth mannering congdon elisabeth mannering congdon 1894 1977 genealogy genealogy for elisabeth mannering congdon 1894 1977 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives.
Will to murder and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Congdon castle, now known as westhome, is a private residence. Kathy ehlen, page turners book club suzanne congdon leroy joined kaxe in grand rapids, mn and she was such a gracious guest. The bestselling book about the congdon murders in d. Filipino community prays for jastine valdez and mark hennessy. Shirley mcloughlin is the matriarch of the mccracken family and learnt many family tales from the recently published family book. Suzanne congdon leroy joined the kaxe book club in grand rapids, mn.
Available in the glensheen gift shop, book stores, online and as an ebook. Between the world and me by tanehisi coates, in the heart of the sea. Twists, turns never end for congdon murder case figure. Mar 23, 2016 marjorie congdon was accused of plotting the death of her wealthy mother, elisabeth congdon, and nurse velma pietila, who were found dead at the congdon estate almost 40 years ago. The marjorie congdon story kindle edition by sharon darby hendry. One of those duluthians caught with the bug was chester congdon. Nipsey hussle marathon book club creates a space for black. Great book to read and i cannot wait to visit the glensheen mansion. The man who actually committed the murder was roger caldwell, the second husband of elisabeth congdons adopted daughter, marjorie, according to minnpost. This is the same congdon who built the glensheen mansion which is. I loved that i could learn more about the history of her grandmother, elisabeth congdon.
A legacy forgotten chester congdon and the north shore. An heiress, kind and generous, is found dead in her bed. I am a quantitative geographer with particular interests in geographic epidemiology, application of spatial statistical methods to area health and health survey data, and spatial demography. On the tenth, he called clara from his rooms at the st. Peter congdon school of geography school of geography. The last surviving central figure in the famous congdon murder case. Village bookstore in grand rapids, minnesota, will host a book signing on saturday, august 23, 2014, from 12pm to 2pm for suzanne congdon leroy. Once a month, black men come together for the marathon book club founded to read the books that inspired nipsey hussle, who was killed in south l. Densely packed detail leaves no stone unturned in the tragic congdonpietila murder case of 1977. As a reader, i was impressed by suzannes writing and loved that i could find out about the many accomplishments and contributions of her extraordinary grandmother, elisabeth congdon. Both excellent studentsand both the children of methodist ministerschester and clara graduated phi beta kappa, and clara was among the first seven women to graduate. While much has changed since we opened our doors, the family, location, and flavors, are the same as they were we opened our doors decades ago and is the reason. Elisabeth congdon s other daughter, jennifer johnson, has died. The most congdon families were found in the usa in 1880.
A legacy forgotten chester congdon and the north shore drive. The filipino community in ireland has offered prayers for the families of both jastine valdez and mark hennessy, the man who is believed to have killed her after he abducted her from enniskerry. Rhode island had the highest population of congdon families in 1840. Chester adgate congdon june 12, 1853 november 21, 1916, lawyer and capitalist, was born in rochester, new york, on june 12, 1853, his parents being sylvester laurentius and laura jane adgate congdon. Marjorie congdon caldwell settles with her children on this day in duluth in 1983, st.
It is a world of gods, prophets, kings, and plagues. Granddaughter pays tribute to elisabeth congdon in memoir. Historical records and family trees related to gladys congdon. Page 115 of 301 listing past services and obituaries. The lives of chester adgate congdon and clara hesperia bannister converged in 1871 at new yorks syracuse university, where each had enrolled as freshmen in the colleges first fouryear class. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Share your experience with us on facebook this is a must see for anyone visiting duluth. The true story behind the crimes and trials surrounding the glensheen killings. The bestselling book about the congdon murders in duluth, minnesota. Chester adgate congdon june 12, 1853 november 21, 1916, lawyer and capitalist, was. The congdon family and some of their bannister relatives gathered on. In the years before elisabeth congdon was murdered, she infused suzanne with love, selfworth, strength, and giving to others. In respect of surviving congdon family members tour guides will not speak about.
Evidence points to roger caldwell and her adopted daughter marjorie. So the good news is i had the run of one of these great tragic murder cases in minnesota history. In the world of sophocles oedipus the king, everything happens on a grand scale, from feats of heroism to the most terrible of mistakes. People dont know because of a tragic oneday event in 1977, hartman says. She vividly portrayed to me the love of two brothers for their sisters in the face of a family tragedy, how each person views life dreams differently. I think it would be great if someone were to write a sequel sotospeak to the book written by elisabeths. Her story has been missing from minnesota history books and long overdue. Full of details about the family history and building of the mansion, and of course the murders. The dna discussion in the epilogue was super interesting as well, though not the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Love, aubrey by suzanne lafleur, evermore by alyson noel, we were liars by e. May 03, 2011 the last person to see heiress elisabeth congdon and her night nurse alive before their 1977 murders at glensheen has died. Congdon s shop, a hamlet in north hill, cornwall, england disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term this disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title congdon.
Robert congdon 1898 1975 genealogy geni family tree. A book about the murders is for sale at glensheens gift shop. Nov 29, 2010 im never surprised to find marjorie congdon hagens name in the news, and it happened again last week. This was about 32% of all the recorded congdon s in the usa. Genealogy profile for robert congdon robert congdon 1898 1975 genealogy genealogy for robert congdon 1898 1975 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. The congdon family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. Writer joe kimball talks about his book secrets of the congdon.
Suzanne congdon leroys keynote presentation to the packed house at the spring meeting of the duluth rotary club 25 and the kiwanis club of friendly duluth, was mesmerizing and inspirational. Physicians were called in, and the family gathered. Told from the viewpoint of the author suzanne congdon leroy, while focusing on her remarkable grandmother, elisabeth mannering congdon. Gladys congdon historical records and family trees myheritage. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.
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