1005 LaFarge Ave History - Laserfiche WebLink

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In 1909, Kate Allera opened a grocery store on Main Street in order to help support her children. In 1910, she had a store built at what is today 1005 La Farge, on the family's property right next to their home. It seems likely that this enabled her to not have to pay rent for the store space on Main Street. The following photo shows Kate Allera with her sons in front of her store; their house can be seen just to the right of the store. Besides Kate and her two sons, her nephew, Marion DiFrancia (whom she helped raise), was also a long time resident of the house. Her mother is believed to have also lived in the house for a period of time. Kate Allera's store was one of 22 Louisville businesses advertised on the painted canvas Rex Theatre movie curtain that was made in 1927-28 for the theatre at 817 Main Street: K,ALLERA GROCERIES FL°uReg pds As of this writing, the original curtain is on exhibit at the Louisville Historical Museum. Louisville directories and her obituary show that Kate Allera operated her store at the location of 1005 La Farge until her death in 1936. Her sons helped her with the store. According to her obituary in The Louisville Times: Through business and other friendly acquaintance, Mrs. Allera became one of the best known women in Louisville. Her singularly well poised life was one for emulation. She solved the problem of graceful living while meeting the stress and strain of life. The following 1929 photo shows the store and house at 1005 La Farge with neighborhood residents Lillian Buffo and daughter Marie Buffo in the forefront: 2