Now that the construction is complete on the new fishing pier, we are starting to ramp up to try to raise $25,000 in matching grant donations to renovate the Bergman Barn and Corral on Barr Lake State Park property. This effort will start with the annual Concert on the Prairie on August 31st from 7-9 PM.  This is a unique evening where visitors can enjoy the sounds of Colorado Southern Band. All proceeds from this evening will be earmarked for this renovation project. In addition, if you would like to donate to this project, you can do so here: Bergman Barn Donations.

The Bergman Barn is one of the remaining artifacts on Barr Lake State Park property depicting the rich agricultural history of Brighton and the Barr Lake area.

Andrew Bergman and his wife Augusta Carlson were from Sweden and came to Colorado by way of Ohio.  The Bergman’s lived in southeast Colorado before arriving in the Brighton area in 1917.  They built a small house and barn east of town.  Their son, Ralph and wife Nell, lived in the small house and had two sons, Edward and Robert.  Edward died of spinal meningitis.  For a time, 1925-1936, Ralph Bergman owned the Old Stone House (Emil Bruderlin’s home).  Sometime around 1936 Ralph built a home and barn on the section of land east of the Old Stone house.  Robert and his mother lived in the home until the mid-1950’s.  The home has since been torn down and the barn and part of the corrals are all the that remain.

The first crops grown by the Bergmans were potatoes.  Later they continued to farm and raised milk cows.

In addition to the restored barn there will be interpretive signs and areas for discussion.  The area will provide information and displays for self-guided tours and areas were school groups can meet to discuss the agricultural history with one of the Barr Lake State Park Naturalists.

Some of the land around the barn will be leased to local farmer to demonstrate the farming endeavors of previous owners and the current farmers in the area.