Helen's Room
Narrated by Volunteer Museum Tour Guide Kasey Butcher Santana
HELEN BROWN BENZIGER
Helen's Bedroom c. 1910. Courtesy Stephan Hart Library, History Colorado
This bedroom belonged to daughter Catherine Ellen, known as Helen, who was about to turn five when the family moved here in April 1894. The bed in this room is a family original and can be seen in the historic photo. Remember to look up to see the beautiful details on the ceiling.
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Helen first attended school at the Loretto Heights Academy, then schooled in France before finishing in Germany. Like her mother she was an accomplished singer and actress and was often on stage during her mother’s fundraisers, including serving as queen of the Mountain-Plains Festival.
Helen as Queen c. 1900 - Denver Public Library
“When Larry and I were young, we thought we had the best mother in Denver.”
- Helen Brown
Helen married a publisher named George Benziger in 1913 and they settled in New York. They had two sons, James and George Peter. It was through daughter Helen and grandson James that we have many great stories about daily life for the Browns in this home. Helen passed away in 1970 just before the call was raised to save this house and turn it into a museum.
