Mary Elitch Long

Mary Elitch Long (May 10, 1856 – July 16, 1936) was a Remarkable Colorado Woman
Mary Hauck was born in Philadelphia in 1856, but most of her early years played out in sunny California. Her father shifted his livestock and fruit business there, making it their new home. Around 16, she ran away with John Elitch, Jr., whom she met at church. They packed up and settled in Durango in 1880, taking a shot at the restaurant business. They moved again to Denver, where they started a new restaurant called Elitch's.
They soon acquired an apple orchard just outside Denver. They planned to use it to stock the restaurant with fresh fruits and vegetables. They both had a soft spot for kids, flowers, animals, and theater. These interests mixed and gave birth to an idea to transform the orchard into Elitch's Zoological Gardens, Denver's first zoo. It was a magical place with exotic animals, gardens, and orchards. And entertainment was in full swing, from lively marching bands to vaudeville shows and light opera performances.
John invested $35,000 into a theater troupe that toured up and down the Pacific Coast. But things took a dark turn when he caught pneumonia in San Francisco. Two weeks later, on March 10, 1891, he passed away.
Mary found herself back in Denver, a mix of sadness and determination swirling within her. She was a 34-year-old widow, tight on cash, so she sold off much of her gardens to a group of business types in Denver. She stayed in a more behind-the-scenes role, but by 1894, she regained control of her beloved gardens.
She was known for being big-hearted and having a soft spot for animals and kids. The Gardens became a refuge for kids. It's said that mothers would put their kids on the streetcar (or later the bus) and tell the driver to drop them off at Elitch's. Mary set aside Tuesdays as Children's Day, adding extra learning and fun for the kids.
In London, a magazine even called her a "splendid type of the American Girl " and claimed she was the only woman ever to run a zoo.
The star attractions in her collection were lions and bears, which she raised herself from when they were just cubs. Mary liked to tell a story about one time when a big bear of hers broke out of its cage. The guys working nearby took off running, but Mary grabbed a broom, stood before the bear, and yelled "Shoo! Shoo!" while shaking her broom and skirts. The bear turned back around and returned to its cage. Mary also figured out that music could calm the wildest beasts. Her bears were most chill when she played the violin.