908 Main St History - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Louisville Historical Museum Department of Library & Museum Services City of Louisville, Colorado February 2011 I�f ��tiy Louisville COLORADO • SINCE 187S History of 908 Main Street, Louisville The first floor of the building at 908 Main St. was constructed in 1952. For close to forty years, that building was the location of the business named Louisville Electric that was owned and operated by Raymond Caranci. Also, the basement of the building for some time was the home of Ray and Nadine Caranci and their three children. (Ray Caranci's parents, Carl and Jennie Caranci, acquired the property at 908 Main in 1951. At that time, a house that historically was associated with the Carlton family stood on the property. That house was moved to the south end of Old Town Louisville when Caranci initiated his plans for a new, modern building on the site.) According to Historical Museum records, the grand opening of Louisville Electric was September 21, 1952. This date also marked the arrival of televisions to Louisville, and the store opened with several Dumont television sets in stock. A 1952 Louisville Times article stated: Ray Caranci is putting up a big building just north of the post office [located on the corner of Main and Walnut] ... The building will be 49 by 83 feet with a full basement and so constructed that other floors can be added. Caranci will have living quarters in the basement, and there will be room for another business. The construction of cinder block will have a native stone front with tilting glass windows. Caranci plans to expand his appliance business to including heating and television.... This will be fourth [sic] new building in that row. G.R. Henning built the post office building first. Then John Madonna built the pool hall and Joe D'Amato built his fruit store which he later expanded to include groceries and a meat market. The right side of the building was 908 Main and housed Louisville Electric, while the left side of the building was 912 Main. Museum records indicate that occupants of 912 Main included the Louisville Times newspaper offices operated by Percy and Carolyn Conarroe (prior to its move