2026 sauntering home from Lewis & Clark trip - part 69: the Kendrick mansion at Trail End - Travel With Us

After learning about John Kendrick’s background in Texas and then Wyoming as a cowboy, rancher, and politician, in this post we’ll walk around the house he had built in the early 1900s with all of the modern conveniences. From www.trailend.org, “This house was built from 1908 to 1913; it was designed by Glenn Charles MacAlister and cost $164,000 [approximately $5,590,000 today]. The interiors were designed by New York City architect D. Everett Waid. Kendrick was a cattleman when he commissioned the house, and he was only beginning his political career; once he became governor in 1914 and a senator three years later, Trail End became his summer home.”

Today this is the welcoming view of the house John built.

This pen and ink drawing shows what the house would have looked like when John rode up to it.

This was the family’s view of the town of Sheridan from their front yard.

guests greeted on first floor of the house

Trail End looks very much the way it did when it was finished in 1913, and the home was meant to impress.

While the home doesn’t have any secret passages, it does have two doors in this room designed to blend into the walls. We couldn’t find them.

The ceilings in this room are hand-painted canvas, with the oak leaf border drawing on the idea of bringing the outdoors in. The quarter-sawn oak paneling was machine-tooled and sent here by railroad from Grand Rapids, Michigan. While the rugs are not originals, today’s deep red rugs have the same color and pattern as the ones placed here in 1913.

Why the name Trail End?

John named his home Trail End because this was the place where he wanted to retire—it was to be the end of his personal trail.

He came to Wyoming on the Texas Trail in 1879 as a penniless orphan cowboy and ended up a millionaire cattle baron. John referred to this home by this name from its earliest days since it appears in letters and diary entries from 1913.

guests always need a powder room

Like most Sheridan homes built in the early 1910s, indoor plumbing and electricity were part of Trail End’s original design. Electricity had come to Sheridan in 1893, and water and sewer were available well before the mansion’s construction began in 1908.

Trail End has 12 full or partial bathrooms. This room, meant for dinner guests to use, does not have a bathtub.

Unlike this house, the Kendrick’s OW Ranch did not have electricity or running water. Outhouses were located next to the family’s home, the cowboys’ bunkhouse, and the horse corrals. (The previous post has a diorama of the OW Ranch during the time that the Kendricks family lived there, so we can look for these building.)

a welcoming powder room for guests to use

home library and office

After searching for years about his mother’s Irish history, Senator Kendrick found out that her father was a wealthy wheelwright and a very smart man. On the Senator’s father’s side, relatives had immigrated to Virginia from England and Scotland in the early 1700s. The Kendrick line moved to North Carolina and then to Georgia, before settling in Texas where John was born in 1857.

The library’s layout and American Gothic design were inspired by a home library that Mrs. Kendrick once admired in Virginia.

The hallmark of Gothic styling—pointed arches—can be seen in both the chandelier and the wall panels. The diamond-shaped leaded glass doors add to the Gothic feeling.

Wikipedia tells us that “Gothic architecture in America primarily refers to the Gothic Revival style that emerged in the 19th century, characterized by pointed arches, intricate detailing, and vertical lines, often seen in churches and universities. This style was influenced by medieval European architecture and became popular for its romantic and historical associations.”

Over the years of his political career, John Kendrick was given many donkey figurines because of his affiliation with the Democratic Party. Some of his collection can be seen above the fireplace.

The ornate ceilings all over the first floor add so much to the feeling of the rooms.

drawing room

The drawing room was a gathering place for the family and their friends.

The carpet was handmade nearly two centuries ago in northern Persia.

The carpet has over 3.5 million hand-tied knots and cost as much as a three-bedroom house did in 1922, around $4000. That amount equates to over $100,000 in today’s money.

From an elegant afternoon tea to a boisterous game of charades, this was the room for conversation and amusement.

John’s wife, Eula, once stated that she studied the interests of her guests so she could easily converse with them.

dining room

Parties were numerous at Trail End, which meant that reinforcements were often called upon to assist permanent members of the staff. Sometimes the Kendricks would borrow staff from large households in nearby Big Horn for the evening to perform whatever duties were needed to keep the gathering running smoothly. They also sometimes relied on another Sheridan couple, Raymond and Bea Wilkerson, with their own catering business.

A brass electrical outlet is located on the floor beneath Eula’s chair so she could press a button to let the maid know that she could assist with the meal. So clever.

Trail End’s dining room is one of the most formal rooms in the house, boasting mahogany walls with a piano finish, an Italian marble fireplace, a hand-painted ceiling, plaster medallions along the ceiling, a rose-silver chandelier, and deep blue corduroy draperies. When fully extended, the table could seat up to 20 people, which would let the Kendricks easily accommodate large dinner parties.

The family ate most every meal in this room, from casual breakfasts with family to elegant dinner parties with friends.

The walls and ceilings are so much more delicate in this room to add to a relaxing meal.

transitioning to working rooms

Between the dining room and the butler’s pantry that we’ll see next was a large walk-in vault built in the thick walls.

Important documents such as stocks and bonds could be locked safely inside, along with jewelry and other valuable items.

butler’s pantry

This room may be called a “Butler’s Pantry,” but Trail End never had a butler. Instead, this was the name given to the space between kitchens and dining rooms. Not only did this room help minimize kitchen noise, heat, and smells, but it also served as a place to plate meals, as well as wash and store the dishes.

The sink is made of German Silver, a precursor to stainless steel. Because it was more flexible than porcelain, the metal sink was the perfect selection for a room where fine crystal and delicate china was washed on a daily basis.

Janice Johnson worked for the Kendricks for four years. The Kendricks’ son, Manville, said in an interview in 1987 that “She was a maid, she cooked, she cleaned, she did everything, and she was something else too. And yet she had had training as a young gal in Chicago. She had formal maid’s training.”

Her one disagreeable habit was her secrecy around breaking dishes. From the same interview, Manville reported, “She would never tell Diana [Manville’s wife] if she broke a dish or something. Just never did. You all laugh about that, but that was one of the more objectionable habits that our servants had.” Mrs. Johnson’s broken dishes tended to end up buried in the garden, and today, Trail End staff will occasionally find these while gardening!”

See the window on the left in the following picture? It’s the pass-through to the kitchen.

The original icebox was a built-in model that stood in front of the large, low window to the right in the picture. Eventually, the ice box was replaced with a modern refrigerator. The icebox in this picture is from the early 1900s, but is not the one original to this room.

This was only one of the cabinets that held different sets of china that the family used for themselves and for their guests.

The left-hand side cabinet door was for the dumbwaiter that would carry food and other items to the other floors. The door on the right-hand side is for the dirty cloths that would to sent to the basement for washing.

kitchen

Trail End’s kitchen was designed in the modern “hospital white” style: all of the surfaces are smooth and easy to sanitize. The porcelain wall tiles, uremic floor, counter tiles, marble trim, and enamel-painted woodwork were meant to be cleaned. What’s more, the white surfaces reflected both light and heat in the room, making it a bright and cooler workspace. There are plenty of windows that open at the top, as well as tall ceilings, allowing the reflected heat to go up and out of the room.

Diana Kendrick and family cook Anna Simmerman regularly experimented with new recipes on the family before serving them to dinner guests.

Cooks and grocers had a close working relationship with the family during the time the Kendricks lived at Trail End. One cook who was born in Sweden in 1871 was named Charlotte “Lottie” Johnson. Lottie was in charge of cooking, a bit of cleaning, and answering the door for guests. By 1947, she was a slight woman with while hair, which she kept pinned up in a bun. That same year, she was listed in the census as an “American Citizen born abroad.”

Lottie’s family arrived in the U.S. between 1877-1888, a period of massive Swedish immigration. This movement was fueled by increasingly scarce, tillable land and severe famine that claimed 22 out of every 1000 lives. Between 1861 and 1881, 150,000 Swedes left for the U.S., and 100,000 of those arrivals occurred between 1868 and 1873. By the time the 1920 census was taken, Lottie and her husband, Wilfred, were documented as naturalized citizens.

See the open pass-through on the left? It’s for items to be passed back and forth to the butler’s pantry.

The open door at the back of this picture is for the “picnic” room.

On a driving trip, rather than worry about eating at restaurants along the way (which were far and few between), the Kendricks took along picnic lunches. Sandwiches, fruit, and bottled drinks were usually part of the average picnic lunch, along with cookies, cakes, and cold meats.

Sometimes, the picnic itself was the reason for the trip; it was a good excuse to fire up the automobile.

Dominating the kitchen is the original Majestic stove on which the Trail End’s cook prepared all meals until 1926 when a gas range was installed.

The Majestic had no legs and was designed to stand flat on the floor.

kitchen hallway

This hallway off of the kitchen contains many items that made the Kendrick servants’ lives easier: laundry chute and dumbwaiter (that we’ll see again), an annunciator that shows which of the house’s many doorbells had been rung, and an alarm for the walk-in vault that we’ve seen.

Trail End’s large vegetable garden was just out the back door and to the south of the Carriage House (we’ll be seeing this area later). The Kendrick family also planted apple trees on their property.

While commercially canned food items were available by the early 1800s, preserving food at home was still common. Anything that could be grown in the garden could be canned at home.

However, if it wasn’t grown on the property, Trail End’s cooks had a variety of stores from which to choose. The Star Grocery was near the Sheridan Inn on Fifth Street, and the Sheridan Commercial Company was on Alger Street. On Main Street were the Sheridan Meat Company, Crystal Bakery, Sheridan Ice Cream Company, and Swan Grocery.

An intercom station that could call within the home and over to the Carriage House was in the hallway.

Copper and marble fuse box in the hallway made it easy to correct any electrical problems in the house.

This side entrance to the house was for the cooks and other staff to go to the gardens.

walking upstairs to family rooms

The oak-leaf wallpaper on the staircase landing is a reproduction of the original pattern, called “Ardennes.” It was replaced in 1990 because the original wallpaper had been irreversibly damaged by 80 years of sunlight, water intrusion, and daily wear-and-tear.

Manville said in 1987 that the wallpaper by the main stairs had faded so much that it *had* to be replaced.

Here we can see the wallpaper next to the painted underneath section of the stairs.

second floor

First, a little about Eula’s background.

While John was unable to learn much about his own family’s history, Eula’s personal files contained handwritten notes from her ancestors, as well as portraits of family members. Eula’s father was Charles Wulfjen, whose father had immigrated to America prior to 1842 from Germany. Charles was born in Arkansas and eventually moved to Texas, where Eula and her siblings were raised. Her mother was born in Florida, but had also lived in Georgia before moving to Texas with her parents. Her mother’s family had come to America sometime before 1760, after living in England and Germany.

master bedroom

The Master Bedroom is one of the few rooms at Trail End to undergo a major change in appearance. Shortly after her husband’s death in 1933, Eula re-wallpapered the room, but kept the original furniture, rug, light fixtures, and fireplace surround.

The Circassian walnut furniture in the next picture was manufactured in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as was much of the home’s furniture.

According to SI, “Circassian walnut furniture from the early 1900s is known for its beautiful colors and graining, often used in fine furniture and cabinetry. This type of wood was highly valued during that period for its rarity and aesthetic appeal.” Now we know why it was used at Trail End.

This bedroom does seem to be more feminine to suit Eula’s tastes after John passed away.

Like many wealthy married couples who came of age in the Victorian Era, the Kendricks slept in separate beds—in this case, double beds. The small bed in here is a daybed on which to nap.

A family grouping shows John at 5’11” and Eula at 5’5″. So stylish.

3rd floor ballroom

The ballroom was designed to be rustic, and features a vaulted stucco ceiling, rough-hewn Georgia Pine beams, and a Maryland Maple dance floor. The four Tiffany-style chandeliers have an artificial “verdigris” patina similar to that found on aged bronze, brass, and copper.

The room was originally intended to be a playroom, but since it took so long to build the house, the children were teenagers by the time they moved in.

The red cushions are reproductions of the originals, and visitors may sit on them. Barney was glad about that.

Originally, the cushions were made of a wool fabric called “repp,” and were stuffed with a mixture of horsehair and moss. [So much more comfortable to sit on today with different filling.] Wikipedia tells us “Repp [one of the spellings, probably from a French word] is a cloth woven in fine cords or ribs across the width of a piece, usually made of silk, wool, or cotton. . . . In wool and cotton it is used for various upholstery purposes.”

One of the alcoves so guests could sit and talk during the dances.

Sheridan had no shortage of bands during the years the Kendrick family lived at Trail End. Memorable ensembles included various groups both formal and informal. Because of their Edison phonograph, the family, however, rarely hired a band to play at their events.

Manville detailed in an 1987 interview. “In my opinion, [the Musician’s Loft] was used for an orchestra only once or twice.”

3rd floor staff bedrooms

The Kendrick mansion at Trail End originally had live-in staff, including a maid and a cook, as indicated by the staff quarters on the 3rd floor.

Their running water was in the hallway so it could be available to all of the staff.

Also in the hallway was a dumbwaiter that was one of many household conveniences built into Trail End. It could be accessed by doors on each floor that could be raised or lowered through the vertical shaft by a rope and pulley mechanism and had a wooden tray that could hold what needed to be moved between floors. Using the dumbwaiter was easier and safer for the maids who worked here.

Instead of carrying heavy loads up and down the staff’s steep stairs, they could move stacks of laundry, cleaning supplies, or trays of food from one floor to another without fear of tripping.

Another convenience for the maids was a central vacuuming system that we’ll learn more about when we walk downstairs to the basement.

down to the basement

The basement is where much of the day-to-day work at Trail End was carried out. In addition to the extensive laundry facilities that we’ll be looking at, it contains a furnace room and coal bin that we didn’t see. There was also a chauffeur’s bedroom with adjoining bathroom for any male employee living here.

Trail End is still heated with steam heat through the original radiators, although the original boilers have been replaced.

In 1916 when George and Anna Simmerman began working for the Kendricks, George was the handyman, and Anna was the cook. While living here, they occupied the chauffeur’s bedroom in the basement. George was a carpenter by trade and had been employed by a Sheridan building contractor for 14 years before joining the staff at Trail End. He was also very involved as a groundskeeper, studying gardening books to familiarize himself with different species before making his selections. Manville seem to be very impressed by his skills.