Glimpse the past at the Molly Brown Summer House. It stands as a testament to a remarkable woman and her family. This wasn’t just a house. It was a retreat. The Browns sought solace from Denver’s bustling city life here.
The Molly Brown Summer House, originally named Avoca Lodge, offers a unique glimpse into their lives. J. J. Brown built it in 1897. He envisioned it as a peaceful getaway. Margaret and J. J. wanted to escape the hustle of the city. They raised horses fowl and fruit here.
Imagine Margaret Brown relaxing here. This wasn’t the formal setting of their Denver mansion. This was a place to unwind. It was a place to enjoy family and friends. Mary “Momo” Shearer’s family later purchased the property. Her grandparents the Fehlmanns, bought the last 96 acres of the Browns’ original 400 acres in 1928.
The Browns named it Avoca Lodge. The name comes from a beautiful valley in Ireland. It reminded them of the property’s lush greenery and converging waters. They were inspired by the poem “The Meeting of the Waters”. Irish poet Thomas Moore wrote it.
J. J. Brown had a vision for Avoca Lodge. He wanted a gentleman’s home. It was a place to relax. It was a place to generate income. They raised various animals. They cultivated an orchard with a thousand trees. Apple cherry peach and pear trees thrived here.
The location was carefully chosen. Bear Creek provided water for cattle. An 800-foot artesian well supplied water to the house. Windmills pumped water to fountains and irrigated the orchards. Margaret Brown visited the Sisters of Loretto nearby. The location also provided access to Fort Logan. The Browns transported their produce to the fort’s soldiers.
Margaret Brown once remarked that she “decorated up a few acres of the Rocky Mountains”. She brought statuary from Egypt and blended it with the Colorado landscape. The Molly Brown Summer House is an original 1897 structure. J. J. Brown even inscribed his name on a column.
Today, you can tour the Molly Brown Summer House. You can explore its history and imagine the Browns’ life here. It’s open year-round. You can even host private events here. A café is also available.
The Molly Brown Summer House offers a different perspective on Margaret Brown. It shows her life beyond the Titanic. It reveals her love for family and nature. It embodies her spirit of adventure and her appreciation for beauty.