The Study
Narrated by Volunteer Museum Tour Guide Jody Pritzl
"Little Jhonny" World's Richest Gold Mine Leadville, CO. Courtesy of Denver Public Library.
To run his extensive mining business, J.J. kept offices in Denver, Leadville, and here at home in this Study. On the desk are copies of his mining papers, including his claim to part ownership in the Little Johnny Mine.
J.J.’s story is fascinating to me as I look at this map above the desk of the Leadville mining claims. Each teeny, tiny black box represents a mining claim. If your eyes start at the “L” in Leadville, drop straight down through the yellow box, and then stop lower in the yellow bow, that’s where the Ibex Mining Company finds gold ore that is 1200 feet long, 250 feet wide and 30 feet deep. Talk about Irish luck or tenacity since over twelve years were spent toiling below ground until the big discovery happened in 1892. An account written in 1895 about J.J. said,
“Mr. Brown is better known throughout the state as ‘the miner’s friend’... He is generous to a fault and puts his hand in his pocket to aid others [more often] than he does his own interests. He possesses qualifications of nobility, honesty and liberality worthy of the emulation of all humanity...”
Above the Study fireplace - Floor Plan of House Drawn by Daughter Helen c. 1957. Leisenring Scrapbook
For instance, in December of each year, J.J. presented the boys at St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum with new warm winter clothes as Christmas gifts. An orphan, J.J.’s mother died when he was ten and his father before J.J. was twenty; J.J. identified with boys without parents.
It was expected for wealthy socialites like J.J. and Margaret to donate money and resources when in need. In April, 1914, the United Garment Workers’ Union of Denver appealed to Margaret, who was in Newport at the time, as they urged her to aid the widows and orphans of the Ludlow Massacre. The Colorado Fuel and Iron Company militia had attacked the miners and their families in Ludlow, CO who were on strike for better working conditions.
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Margaret travelled to Denver where she arranged a benefit entertainment to raise a large relief fund. As the wife of a mine owner and benefactor of mining wealth, Margaret was initially careful to stay neutral, and fundraised for both sides. A few days later, however, she changed her mind. She spent the next few months speaking out about the injustice of CF&I’s militant tactics, and all miners’ rights to good working conditions.
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Is there a community cause that you support?
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After you tour the house, visit the Natural Resource Education Center, accessible from outside courtyard to learn more
about the events of Ludlow as well as the centuries-old quest for gold in Colorado.