1401 Cannon St Unit A History - Laserfiche WebLink

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Early Ownership The developers of the Caledonia Place subdivision sold a large piece of the property to the United Coal Company in the early 1890s. The United Coal Company was the company of Caledonia Place founder James Cannon, Jr. By a deed recorded in 1893, the United Coal Company sold at least all of Blocks 7 and 8, located in Little Italy, to Peter James (Pietro DiGiacomo). Peter James then conveyed ownership of all of Block 8 of Caledonia Place, located in Little Italy, to his wife, Mary James, by a deed recorded in 1898. Rizzi/DiGiacomo Family Ownership, c. 1900-1997; Date of Construction By a deed recorded in 1901, Tom Rizzi purchased Lot 6 of Block 8 (1401 Cannon) from Mary James. Members of the Rizzi (in Louisville, pronounced "Ree'-Zye") family would end up owning 1401 Cannon until 1997. Boulder County gives 1980 as the date of construction of this house on its website and 1900 as the date on the 1948 Assessor Card. However, the County has frequently been found to be in error with respect to the dates of construction of historic Louisville buildings, or the dates have been found to be very rough estimates, so it is helpful to look at all of the available and relevant information (particularly in cases like this where the County has given two different dates). Tom and Jennie Rizzi and their first two children are shown to have been living in Little Italy by the time of the 1900 federal census, based on the names of known residents of Little Italy being listed with them. They could have been living in Little Italy even earlier than 1900, as they had moved to Louisville in 1897. The census records indicate that they were renting, but they could have been living in a house on the site with the intention of purchasing it. The deed conveying ownership was recorded in 1901. The 1904 directory lists Tom Rizzi as being a resident of Caledonia Place. The 1909 Drumm's Wall Map, above, shows the house in its correct location. For these reasons, "circa 1900" is believed to be the most accurate date of construction for this house that can be identified. This is also close to the estimated date of 1900 given by the County. The date of 1980 given on the County website might have been the date of a remodel or an error. There is no evidence that the original house was torn down and another built. Thomas Rizzi was born in Italy in 1877 and arrived in the United States in about 1890. He married Giovanna "Jennie" DiGiacomo in Wyoming. Jennie DiGiacomo had been born in 1881 in Kansas (sometimes stated to be Arkansas) to Italian -born parents. Although this could not be established with certainty, it is believed that she was a relative of Peter and Mary James, who owned most or all of the lots in Little Italy at one point. Tom and Jennie's first child, Frank, was born in Hanna, Wyoming in January 1897. The family reportedly moved to Louisville later in 1897. Their other three children were born in Colorado: 3