936 LaFarge Ave History - Laserfiche WebLink

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1909 Drumm's Map of Louisville showing the house on Lot 10, Block 3 on the corner of South St and La Farge Avenue. Michael Buffo (1862-1924) and Maria Buffo (1866-1939, maiden name also Buffo) were married in Italy. They came from Prascorsano, Province of Torino, Italy, as did others who settled along this part of La Farge. The Buffos were neighbors on La Farge with the Fenolia, Enrietto, and Allera families who also had ties to Prascorsano. The 1900 census, which shows Michael, Maria, and their son Baptist very likely living at this location, also shows a boarder, Toni "Fanoglio." This indicates yet another link with the Fenolia family. (A second boarder living with the family was John Balla, also an Italian immigrant.) Michael Buffo immigrated to the US in 1893, coming first to Indiana. He was living in Louisville by 1898. Michael Buffo worked as a coal miner and saved money to send for his family. A passenger list from 1898 states that Maria Buffo and their oldest child, Battista [Baptist], were coming to meet Michael in Louisville. Their children were Baptist, Dominic, and Mary. Their oldest child, Angelina, had died young in Italy. Baptist Buffo was born in 1890 in Italy. A miner who took part in the strike of 1910-1914, he was shot in the stomach in the strike conflict of 1914 at the Hecla Mine in Louisville. Baptist served in World War I and died in the 1918 influenza epidemic while he was stationed in Kansas. He is listed on Louisville's World War I monument located in the Louisville Cemetery and is buried there. Dominic Buffo (1900-1976), also became a coal miner. Dominic married Lillian Majors in 1921 and they resided at 709 Walnut in Jefferson Place. In 1944, Dominic was severely injured while working on the Columbine Mine tipple. Their son, William, grew up at 709 Walnut in Jefferson Place, then moved next door to 711 Walnut at age 19 when he married. Mary Buffo (1903-1986), worked catty -corner from her home at Kate Allera's grocery store in the 1920s, following the death of her father, Michael, in 1924. She married Pete Bosone in 1935. They owned and resided at 937 La Farge in Jefferson Place, across the street from Mary's childhood home at 936 La Farge. The following photo from 1910 shows Michael Buffo with his children, Dominic and Mary, just outside of their home at 936 La Farge. The view is looking east on South Street. The rear of the Jacoe Store, now the location of the Louisville Historical Museum, can be seen on the left.