833 Jefferson Ave Historic Survey

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Resource Number: 5BL 11305 Temporary Resource Number: 157508413002 Records indicate that the house at 833 Jefferson was owned by different members of the Hamilton family between 1904 and 1931. Harry Hamilton owned it from 1904 to 1906; Harry's mother, Virginia Hamilton, owned it from 1906 to 1925; and Harry's brother, Frank Hamilton, owned it from 1925 to 1931. Harry Hamilton died in 1918 of tuberculosis. Lena Hamilton went to work as a clerk in the store of her brother-in-law, Owen Thirlaway. The 1920 census records show that Lena, Donald, and Asenath Hamilton were still living at 833 Jefferson. Lena was 41 and her children were 13 and 11. Directories show that they were still living at this location through the 1920s. Donald died in 1926 of tuberculosis and valvular heart disease. It is worth noting that Asenath Hamilton was one of the five Chinook Camp Fire Girls who collected books and started Louisville's first public library, the Chinook Library, in 1924 while they were Louisville students. Asenath was about 16 at the time. The library that they started evolved into the Louisville Public Library of today. Asenath Hamilton Edmond died in 1989. From 1931 to 1935, this house was owned by Pearl Conley (1877-1939). She had been the editor of The Louisville Times since 1917, as described in the Spring 2011 issue of The Louisville Historian. It is not believed, however, that she lived in the home during her ownership. In 1932, Nestor and Alice Souply are listed as living in this house, and records indicate that they would become the legal owners of the house in 1935. Nestor Souply was born in Belgium in 1889 and came to the US in 1902 and to Louisville in 1923. He died in 1973. He and his wife, Alice Merciez (1892-1988) had several children, including Florence, Evelyn, Nestor Jr., Lorene, and Betty. He worked as a miner. The Merciez family was also associated with 729 La Farge (5BL7981) and 728 La Farge (5BL919). In addition, Nestor and Alice Souply helped operate Forte's grocery store at 804 Walnut (5BL11308) in Jefferson Place and lived behind that store for a time in 1936. Alice's parents were Jules and Marie Merciez, who had been born in France, and it is believed that in at least 1936, Jules and Marie had their residence at 833 Jefferson. It has also been remembered that Jules Merciez used to live in a small house behind the main house at 833 Jefferson. In 1937, relatives of Alice Merciez Souply purchased 833 Jefferson. They were Anthony "Boney" and Amelia Merciez La Salle. They and their children (Barbara, Mary Anne [Patete], and Jeffrey) would own it for at least 52 years, until 1989. Looking at the combined ownership by members of the Merciez family, it was owned by the same family for about 54 years. Alice Merciez Souply of 833 Jefferson, Amelia Merciez La Salle of 833 Jefferson, Edith Merciez Chiolino of 729 La Farge, and Alex Merciez of 728 La Farge were all siblings. Anthony La Salle (1906-1986) was born in Louisville as the son of William and Katherine Scran La Salle. He worked as a miner in Louisville and played a role in the rescue operations at the Monarch Mine in 1936 following the explosion that killed eight local miners. He also was an enterprising businessman. Following the death of his brother, William "Buck" La Salle, Anthony began to rent his brother's pool hall from William's widow. This building later became Colacci's Restaurant and is now the building of the Empire Restaurant at 816 Main Street (5BL8012). According to William's daughters, the La Salle Pool Hall served ice cream, soft drinks, and apples. There were also card tables for playing cards. Some recall that barbuit, a dice game, was played in the basement. Former Louisville resident Harry Mayor has compared the three major pool halls of his childhood in Louisville and has written that "Boney's was the younger, boisterous crowd. It was always involved with the baseball teams and the volunteer hose teams." Anthony and Amelia La Salle purchased the original Catholic Church one block away at 833 La Farge (5BL7994) in Jefferson Place in 1945 from the St. Louis Catholic Church congregation and resold the property to Mark Baughman for the construction of an Apostolic Church in 1946. In 1947, Anthony La Salle and his partners moved two buildings from the Monarch Mine camp to become the Wagon Wheel Inn at 1160 South Boulder Road. This building is now Union Jack Liquor. It was a popular bar and restaurant 4