Fitzhugh Scott
Marriages
Eileen Schlesing - January 13, 1937
Obituaries
Vail Daily - August 3, 2002
FITZHUGH SCOTT - architect of Vail Village
An avid skier with a wonderful family that loved the outdoors, Fitzhugh “Fitz” Scott, from Milwaukee, had an established architectural practice there with many prominent corporations as his regular clients, plus a substantial residential business.
Fitz first heard of Vail through George Caulkins in 1958. He was one of the 20 people who put down $5,000 and became part of the Vail Corporation. As he became more involved and made trips to see the site, he realized that it was going to be a great opportunity to be part of what promised to be an outstanding ski resort.
His time and effort in the early stages of 1960 and 1961 went beyond the call of duty. He conceived various plans for the village and even went so far as to make models of the mountain, the chairlifts, and the village itself.
When it became apparent that the resort was going ahead, Fitz, at his own risk, built a two-story chalet by the bridge that passes over Gore Creek on Forest Road. He built it without a plot plan or any kind of deed. This turned out to be a major step forward in the planning and organization of the team that was to create Vail. The building was known as the Bridge Chalet and stood at the site of what is now Bishop Park. It was constructed in 1961, and in 1962, the first floor became the offices of Vail Associates. It was the only building in Vail other than the original Hanson farmhouse and served as a badly needed focal point and headquarters. As a member of the three-man architectural committee to design the village and create the protective covenants, Fitz was an invaluable contributor in creating the town of Vail as we know it today.
The concept was to have a European Alpine feeling. When it was laid out, Fitz was adamant about Bridge Street being curved. He said, “The prettiest line between two points is a curved line. Let’s emphasize the curve so people will want to find out what is around the corner.” In the first few years, Fitz had many clients. He built several of the original residences, especially on Mill Creek Circle. He designed the Lodge at Vail, the Red Lion, the Mill Creek Building, and many others. He designed his own home on Mill Creek Circle, where he and Eileen entertained lavishly in those early years with many parties that included almost everyone who lived in the village. As time went on, Fitz closed his practice in Milwaukee and moved permanently to Vail, where he engaged in a booming architectural practice. He brought in several young architects who have become prominent architects in the area today – Gordon Pierce, Dick Bailey, and Tom Briner, to name a few. ((Editor’s Note: In a continued effort to help the community understand its roots, the Vail Daily for a second time is serializing Dick Hauserman’s “The Inventors of Vail.” This is the 21st installment, an excerpt from chapter 4, “The First Directors Meeting.” ))
Vail Daily - May 29, 1998
Vail Trail - June 5, 1998
Fitzhugh Scott knew the high road well
Architect left world with good buildings and good will
Tam Scott looks back to the very early 1960's when Vail was little more that deep pastures and a wild idea.
He remembers staying at the farm house in Potato Patch (there were few other places to stay) and listening to his father talk about skiing and lifts and the things that could happen if people stuck to their inspirations. It would not be the first or last time Fitzhugh Scott stepped forward as a visionary or encouraged others on that path.
Fitzhugh Scott died in Carbondale May 15, 1998, after living 88 years. In that time the architect helped create Vail as an original investor and planner, periodically coming to the fore with landmark projects.
Tam says his father was unusual as a developer, in that he had "an innocent enthusiasm" for making things happens.
"He wasn't so much into money as he was excited about doing something that was going to be good," Tam says.
Vail founder Pete Seibert will agree.
Scott first came to Vail in the early 1960s, taking place on the original Vail Corporation board. Observers laugh that it was one way to ensure that his daughter Kit would have a job. She worked as Seibert's right hand for a short time, although Seibert will laugh when asked about job security in those chancy days.
"Fitzhugh had a great enthusiasm," Seibert says. "He epitomized the spirit of early Vail and the willingness to work long hours for little or no money."
Along with Seibert and the late Fritz Benedict, Scott helped chart the layout of Vail Village. Seibert also points out that Scott designed the Red Lion, The Lodge at Vail and Vail Interfaith Chapel--critical pieces of the town's early development. The town's first house can also be credited to Scott. Located where Bishop Park now is, it housed the Vail Corporation, the forerunner to Vail Associates.
"We owe him a great vote of thanks," Seibert says. "To him and (wife) Eileen."
Scott first established himself as an architect in Milwaukee, following a professional tradition begun by his father. After graduating from the Yale School of Architecture, Scott returned to Milwaukee to eventually create homes for the city's upper echelons. He also undertook public projects, including for the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and Madison, as well as the physics building for UW-Madison and the addition to the Milwaukee Art Center.
Tam recalls the late 1950's when his family (the Scotts had four children) learned to ski on rope tows at places like Slinger and Holy Hill, Wisc. Knowing there were real mountains and deeper snow elsewhere, Fitzhugh and Eileen were frequent chaperones for spring breaks.
They'd board the California Zephyr and ride the rails to Sun Valley. Later they sampled Alta and Aspen, but Scott didn't sink roots too deeply in the West until the notion of Vail began floating through the mountains.
Some would come back from Vail's promotional snowcat tours with serious doubts, but Scott had a wild, but good feeling about Seibert's vision.
After helping set Vail's stage, Scott would later develop the Vail Athletic Club, where he and Eileen lived for several years before moving to Potato Patch.
The Scotts moved to Vail fulltime in 1974, when Fitzhugh created a partnership with architects Tom Briner and Gordon Pierce. The group developed the Northwoods condominiums, among other projects.
Still later, Fitzhugh Scott became one of the original developers of Arrowhead.
Tom Briner says he owes a lot to Scott. "He was generous, perhaps to a fault," he says.
Britner recounts stories of Scott taking younger architects to Europe and Japan because he was so excited to explore the contemporary designs overseas. Briner says Scott's name on his door in Vail went a long way.
"Everybody knew Fitz, but nobody knew me at the time," he says. "And he was very supportive of me, even when my particular taste ran counter to the Tyrolean aesthetic of Vail."
Scott too, would argue for some projects that flew in the face of Vail's tradition. Briner says that while Scott was a gentleman to his death, he wasn't always patient. A case in point, which tested the composure of more people than Scott, was the Claes Oldenberg debacle, in which the sculptor was hired to place a large fishing pole in and about Gore Creek. Scott was among many pushing for the plan, which was eventually scuttled because of the outrage it caused.
The incident wouldn't dim Scott's outlook on art. He was a member of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, and he and Eileen established a modest collection of their own.
Briner says it's almost impossible to talk about Fitzhugh without mentioning Eileen. Their marriage spanned more that 61 years.
Briner visited the pair last....
(Obituary incomplete)
