Please Help Us Renovate the Bergman Barn

Friends of Barr Lake is working to provide $25,000 in matching grant money to renovate the Bergman Barn. Please take a moment to read about the history of this site and our plans for the renovation. And please consider donating to this effort that will enhance education about agriculture of yesterday and today.

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 Bergmans 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 his 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). Some time 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-1950s. 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.

The restored barn will be a focal point for education about the agricultural history of the Brighton and Barr Lake area. 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 farmers to demonstrate the farming endeavors of previous owners and the current farmers in the area.

The restored barn will be a focal point for education about the agricultural history of the Brighton and Barr Lake area.

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.

Ranger Michelle and Friends Board Member discussing plans for the renovation

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.