Brennan House

HABS photo of the house in 1973

The **Brennan House** is a historic Italianate townhouse located in Louisville, Kentucky. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 11, 1975. The house was voted one of the top ten favorite buildings in Louisville by local residents in a contest by *The Courier-Journal*.

## History

The house was built in 1868 for tobacco merchant Francis Ronald. In 1884, it was sold for $12,000 to Thomas Brennan, an equipment manufacturer and inventor who was originally from Ireland. He and his wife, Anna, had eight children who grew up in the house. Thomas Brennan (1838-1914) received accolades for his inventions, including two prizes at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. He was co-owner and vice president of Brennan & Co., SouthWestern Agricultural Works, a manufacturer of farm machinery.

The three-story townhouse has six bedrooms and features 16-foot ceilings. It was designed with stained-glass windows, an expansive veranda, hand-carved marble and slate mantels, and crystal chandeliers. The Brennan home was among the first in Louisville to have electric lights.

Two of the Brennan sons became doctors, and one of them, Dr. J. A. O. Brennan, added a north wing to the house in 1912 for medical office space with waiting and exam rooms.

One of Brennan's sons continued to live in the house until his death in 1963. At that time, the house was left to the Filson Club.

The house was operated by the Filson Club as a house museum from 1969 until 1992, when a non-profit organization was created by the club to manage the house, as well as to help defray the costs of maintaining it.

## Today

The Brennan House is now the home of Preservation Louisville, a non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is to protect and promote the city's cultural, architectural, and environmental heritage. The house is available for group tours and can be rented for weddings, parties, and other events. Annual Victorian holiday tours are held at the house.

Inside, the house has been preserved with original interior finishes and lighting. The furnishings are from the Brennan family's personal collection. Some of the original items in the house include family photographs, a signed Tiffany lamp, hand-carved furniture, a stained glass coat of arms by Louisville artist Bernard Alberts, and steamer trunks filled with world travel memorabilia. The medical office addition has been preserved with an exam table, equipment and medical volumes from the early 20th century.

## Rumors and legends

The house has been reported as a haunted site in Louisville. The Brennan family is said to haunt the house, and guests have reported hearing violin and piano music and smelling cigar smoke without a clear source. Some photographers have also captured an unexplained orb in front of the house.

## References

1. ↑ Poynter, Chris. "Presenting your favorite Louisville buildings", *The Courier-Journal*, November 11, 2004, p. 1I.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Brennan House | Kentuckiana Heritage Consortium.
3. ↑ Brennan Family.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Historical Function Venue for Wedding, Parties, Corporate Events or Meetings.
5. ↑ Thomas, Brennan,. Ronald–Brennan House, 631 South Fifth Street, Louisville, Jefferson County, KY.
6. ↑ Poynter, Chris. "Two nonprofits at odds over how a $7.5 million funds should be used", *The Courier-Journal*, March 26, 2006, p. 1E.
7. ↑ "If you go: Victorian Holiday Home Tours", *The Courier-Journal*. Retrieved on September 29, 2016.
8. ↑ Brennan House | Ghost Walking Tours Of Louisville, Kentucky.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Haunted Places to Stay in Louisville, Kentucky.