600 Jefferson Ave Historic Survey

Home Browse Search

Resource Number: 5BL 11287 Temporary Resource Number: 157508435010 the boundaries of the Sanborn Maps that were done for Louisville in 1893, 1900, and 1908 (they focused on the downtown business district and La Farge Avenue only). The house does appear in the correct location on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map of Louisville. Antonio "Tony" and Mary De Santo lived at 600 Jefferson from 1904 (at the latest) until between 1928 and 1930. Available property records indicate that they actually owned it until 1932. Tony De Santo was born in Italy in about 1873, while Mary De Santo was born in Italy in about 1875. They are believed to have immigrated in 1900-1905. Tony worked as a coal miner in the Louisville area, as did at least his oldest son. Their children are believed to have consisted of Katy, Albert, Ernest, Julia, Joseph, John, Anthony, and Lucy. The family is shown in Louisville directories as living here consistently from at least 1904 to 1928. They are also shown in the census records for 1910 and 1920 as residing in this location. The census records for 1930 show that by that year, the family had moved elsewhere in Boulder County, to the Niwot area, where they began to engage in farming. The De Santo name for this family is spelled in various ways in historical records, including Desanto, Disanto, and Desando. Boulder County property records show that in 1932, Carmen Romano and Ann DiFrancia Romano purchased 600 Jefferson. They would end up being associated with this property for 67 years, until 1999. They are shown in Louisville directories as occupying the house consistently for that period. Carmen Romano was born in Italy in 1906 and came to the US with his parents, Dominic and Mary, in around 1913. By 1920, the family was living in Denver, where his parents had a grocery store in north Denver. He moved to the Louisville area with his parents and siblings in 1922 and married Ann DiFrancia in 1930. He died in 1993. Ann DiFrancia Romano was born to Italian parents, Angelo DiFrancia and Maria Bucci DiFrancia, in Superior in 1907. Ann Romano played on the Women's Softball Professional League of Denver. She passed away in 1999 at the age of 91. Carmen and Ann Romano are mainly remembered in Louisville for their ownership and operation of the Rex Theatre (817 Main Street 5BL8552) from 1945 to 1972. This followed a long period of ownership of the theatre by Santino Biella, who also lived in Jefferson Place, at 825 La Farge (5BL7993). Carmen Romano was a projectionist at the Rex Theatre during the ownership of Sandy Biella. During the day, he worked as a coal miner in area coal mines and even became a mine superintendent at the Black Diamond Mine. The directory for 1943 lists Carmen Romano as a miner, then the one for 1946 shows him as the manager of the Rex. After years of successful ownership of the Rex Theatre, the reason for the couple's eventual sale of the Rex in 1972 was Carmen's failing eyesight. Carmen's skills as a mechanic, electrician, and plumber were useful in the Rex Theatre business. A narrative about Carmen Romano written by his brother, Lewis, stated that Carmen made the marquee and "he was always on the ladder changing the billboard for coming new shows." Records at the Museum indicate that the Romanos also improved the building by installing restrooms. Carmen would let different organizations use the Rex for plays and other performances such as amateur nights. It was also remembered how Carmen and Ann would drive to Denver every week to pick up a new film. Carmen's brother wrote in this narrative on file at the Louisville Historical Museum: One thing the family remembers is that they saved and scraped up enough money to buy the show business [the Rex]. They came home from Denver after all the signing was done and all they had was a bag of popcorn to eat between them. But through thick and thin they made the show business pay off. They always had in their mind good clean films and they did that for Louisville and the kids. . . . What can we say? Ann and Carmen did it their way. We shall never forget them and their dedication and service to beloved Louisville, Colorado and the joy of the Rex Theater. 4