Just off the corner of Fifth Street and Jerry around the corner from the best bakery in town, you’ll find a quaint and historic homes in Castle Rock. Today, the beautiful Rhyolite stones encapsulate the award-winning Chamber of Commerce but, there was a time when it was a home to some extraordinary people. Built in 1889 this Historic Landmark has become affectionately known as Victoria’s House. It derives its name from the extraordinary woman who lived there from 1896 to 1942; Victoria Christensen. Victoria was a school teacher by trade but became known for her social activities among women’s groups, most notably the Order of the Eastern Star, a Masonic appended organization. Its symbol proudly displayed on her headstone at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in town. The inscription below reads

“To have known her was a great privilege, and to have her for a friend, a great honor. Her goodness will continue to live in the hearts of us all, for she was truly one of God’s noble women.”

She was also an active member of the Pike’s Peak Grange. Victoria grew up in Castle Rock and graduated from Douglas County High School. She later taught at both Glade and Happy Canyon Schools and was an avid public lecturer. Her parents purchased the stately home in 1896 and later deeded it to her in 1917 after her mother’s death. Her first husband died tragically in a hunting accident in 1911 while she was pregnant with their first child. In 1919 she would find love again and marry a Danish immigrant who worked as a cashier at the First National Bank building, the home of our masonic lodge. They would have two more children together.  Born on the island of Fyn, Denmark in 1873 he made his way to Colorado after working various jobs in Iowa and Minnesota before finally settling in our remarkable community.

Thorwald Christensen, was a Charter member of Douglas Masonic Lodge No. 153,

which formed the same year of his marriage to Victoria. He was quite the traveler. In 1911 he attended a banker’s convention in New Orleans and followed it up with a trip to Havana Cuba! That same year he gained some local notoriety by purchasing the very first Ford Motor car in Douglas County. Thorwald worked and held stock at the First National Bank until it finally closed its doors in 1936 during FDRs New Deal moratorium after paying off 100% of its debtors.

Like Victoria, Thorwald was very active in civic affairs. In addition to being a member of our lodge he was also a member of the El Jebel Shrine, the Scottish Rite and helped form the Douglas County Lion’s Club where he served as Secretary. He served as the Mayor of Castle Rock, as well as Clerk, a Charter member of the Castle Rock Fire Department, President of School District No. 38, helped consolidate the local Record and Journal newspapers in 1908, and President of the Cherry Creek Soil Conservation District where he studied soil conservation for nearly 50 years. Both he and Victoria exemplified public service and personal sacrifice for the community. In 1995 the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Colorado laid a Cornerstone to commemorate the building being re-dedicated as the Chamber of Commerce.