Ronald–Brennan House facts for kids
The Ronald–Brennan House, often called just the Brennan House, is a historic and beautiful house in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. It was built in a special style called Italianate. This house was added to the list of important historical places, the National Register of Historic Places, on August 11, 1975. People in Louisville even voted it one of their top ten favorite buildings!
Quick facts for kids |
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Ronald–Brennan House
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HABS photo of the house in 1973
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| Location | 631 South 5th Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 |
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| Built | 1868 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000774 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1975 |
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Brennan House was built in 1868 for a man named Francis Ronald. He was a merchant who sold tobacco. In 1884, Thomas Brennan bought the house for $12,000. Thomas was an inventor and equipment maker from Ireland. He and his wife, Anna, had eight children who grew up in the house.
Thomas Brennan: Inventor
Thomas Brennan (1838–1914) was a very clever inventor. He even won two awards at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair for his inventions! He also helped run a company called Brennan & Co., SouthWestern Agricultural Works. This company made machines for farms.
Inside the House
This big house has three stories and six bedrooms. The ceilings are very high, about 16 feet! It has beautiful stained-glass windows and a large porch called a veranda. Inside, you can see hand-carved marble fireplaces and sparkling crystal chandeliers. The Brennan home was one of the first houses in Louisville to have electric lights.
A Doctor's Office
Two of Thomas Brennan's sons became doctors. One son, Dr. J. A. O. Brennan, added a new part to the house in 1912. This new section was for his medical office. It had waiting rooms and exam rooms for his patients.
The House Becomes a Museum
One of Brennan's sons lived in the house until he passed away in 1963. After that, the house was given to a group called the Filson Club. The Filson Club ran the house as a house museum from 1969 until 1992. Then, a special group was created to help manage the house and pay for its upkeep.
The Brennan House Today
Today, the Brennan House is home to Vital Sites. This is a non-profit group that works to make Louisville better. They help fix up old or unused buildings.
Visiting the House
You can take a tour of the Brennan House with a group. It can also be rented for special events like weddings or parties. Every year, during the holidays, they have special Victorian holiday tours.
What You Can See Inside
The inside of the house has been kept just as it was. You can see the original decorations and lights. The furniture belonged to the Brennan family. Some of the special items include old family photos and a lamp signed by Tiffany. There is also hand-carved furniture and a stained-glass coat of arms. You can even see old steamer trunks filled with souvenirs from their world travels! The doctor's office part of the house is also preserved. It has an exam table, medical tools, and old medical books from the early 1900s.
Is it Haunted?
Some people say the Brennan House is a haunted place in Louisville!
See also
