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In 1906, they commissioned local architect Thomas McLaren to travel to France for a year. McLaren meticulously studied the design of the Versailles Palace's Trianon, capturing its proportions, ornamentation, and details. Returning to Colorado, he adapted the grandeur of French royalty into a more modest, mountain-appropriate chateau.
Construction of Claremont: The Mountain Château
By 1907, Claremont was completed at a cost of approximately $200,000. This 22,000-square-foot mansion sprawled across 10 carefully landscaped acres dedicated to the Brodemore community. Its distinct U-shape spanned roughly 148 by 88 feet, featuring a state-of-the-art modern structure—reinforced concrete walls coated with gleaming white glazed ceramic tiles resembling marble.