844 Main St History - Laserfiche WebLink

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For many years, G.R. Henning operated the only ambulance service to the coal mines, a service used relatively frequently due to mining accidents, and provided ambulance service to the general public as well. During the Depression, Henning reportedly provided funeral service for any family regardless of financial circumstances. He served on the Boulder County Welfare Board during the Depression and on the Rationing Board and Draft Board during World War II. He belonged to several fraternal organizations. He was the town Santa Claus, playing this role on Christmas Eve for many years and handing out sacks of candy and an orange. He is remembered for even visiting the homes of sick children on Christmas Eve. For his many contributions, the Historical Commission posthumously awarded him the Louisville Pioneer Award in 1991. Marguerite Henning, in her role with the Ladies Aid Group at the Methodist Church, was instrumental in organizing the first Labor Day Fall Festival in Louisville in 1932. In addition to other civic activities, she was also an active member of the Saturday Study Club, a women's group that took on the task of operating the library beginning in the mid-1920s. G.R. and Marguerite Henning organized the Lafayette Assembly Order of Rainbow Girls under the sponsorship of the Lafayette Masonic & Eastern Star Lodges. Young women in Lafayette and Louisville were encouraged to join. The Hennings even memorably transported the girls in the hearse to their ranch in Eldorado Springs for Rainbow Girls events and outings. G.R. Henning moved to Spruce Lane in the early 1950s, following the death of Marguerite in 1950, and retired from his business in 1960. The Mortuary became the Henning -Howe Mortuary in 1956 and was active as a business until 1982. Later Owners In 1956, G.R. Henning conveyed all or part of his interest in the building and business to Darrell & Donna Howe and Henning -Howe Mortuary, and it continued to be a mortuary under the name Henning -Howe Mortuary until 1982. In 1982, Bessie Anderson Wood Shirk purchased 844 Main. Her late husband, Floyd Wood, was one of the Wood Bros. of Wood Bros. Homes. She had it remodeled for small professional office and retail space. Many small businesses have since been located in the building. In 2000, she changed her ownership name to Bessie Wood. In 2004, she sold the property to 844 Main Associates, which is the current owner. Sources The preceding research is based on a review of relevant and available online County property records, census records, oral history interviews, and related resources, and Louisville directories, newspaper articles, maps, files, obituary records, survey records, and historical photographs from the collection of the Louisville Historical Museum. 12