Jake Kochevar, Sr. and his son Jake, Jr. started building Kochevar’s Saloon in the 1890’s for Jake Jr., a recent widower. The massive structure was built from hand-hewn logs with two full stories. The Second floor was designed as a “boarding house for women”.
Close inspection of the outside second story wall, next to The Forest Queen, reveals protruding beams and stacked logs below each window opening. The original plans called for separate doors off each upstairs room to a long deck for the ladies to “promenade”. The second story outhouse, designed for the ladies convenience, still stands.
While construction was still underway, Jake, Jr. got word or a “good woman from the old country over in Leadville”. Jake rode on over, courted and married Karolina and brought her back to their “new home” in Crested Butte.
Karolina caught quick wind of her husband’s and father in law’s plan for the second story of the saloon. According to Karolina’s daughter, Karolina said, “I won’t be raising my family in a brothel. You can forget it or I’m back to Leadville!” Karolina and Jake had 10 children, some of whom are still surviving… the second story still sits empty.
Rob Quint