608 LaFarge Ave Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL7976 Temporary Resource Number: 157508436005 In 1926, Nettie Wilson purchased the property from "Raffaele D Amato." She was the wife of Louisville miner Robert Wilson, and owned it just one year. Willis Family ownership, 1927-1960 In 1927, the Willis family acquired this property. Members of this family were to own it for 33 years. According to a 1933 clipping describing the golden wedding anniversary of Margaret and William H. Willis, the two were married in Middlesboro, Yorkshire, England, in 1883 and came to the United States in 1886. They then came to Louisville in 1907. William Willis had been a miner in England and he continued to mine in the Louisville area. They had four daughters and a son, including Elizabeth Willis (sometimes referred to as Mary Elizabeth) and Robert Willis, both of who became residents of 608 La Farge. According to Louisville Cemetery records, William Willis lived 1860 to 1944 and Margaret lived 1864 to 1935. In 1927, Margaret Willis acquired the property at what is now 608 La Farge. In 1934, she conveyed it by quit claim deed to her daughter, Elizabeth Willis. Directories show that Margaret and William Willis made their home elsewhere in Louisville. Louisville directories show that the Willis's son, Robert Willis, and his wife, Nelle Wolfer Willis, were residents of this house in 1928 and 1930. Robert was a coal miner. The address for this property at that time was 117 La Farge. Robert and Nelle Willis are also shown as living on La Farge in 1940, and they are shown as specifically living at 608 La Farge in 1943. They had one child, Mary Kathryn. The 2000 Cultural Resource Survey is correct that according to the 1951 directory, 608 La Farge was the residence of Gregory and Helen James, but they were not significant to the history of this house. Because they were not the legal owners, it is believed that they were renters. Also, this was the only directory in which they are listed as living at this address. Next, the legal owner, Elizabeth Willis, did make this property her home. Her listed address is 608 La Farge in the directories for 1952-53, 1953, 1956, and 1958. Her occupation is given in directories as both "waiter" and "cafeteria worker." Elizabeth Willis lived 1883 to 1959. The property left the ownership of the Willis family in 1960. Sources of Information Boulder County "Real Estate Appraisal Card — Urban Master" on file at the Carnegie Branch Library for Local History in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder County Clerk & Recorder's Office and Assessor's Office public records, accessed through http://recorder.bouldercounty.org. Directories of Louisville residents and businesses on file at the Louisville Historical Museum. Census records and other records accessed through www.ancestry.com. Archival materials on file at the Louisville Historical Museum. Drumm's Wall Map of Louisville, Colorado, 1909, at Louisville Historical Museum. Sanborn Insurance Maps for Louisville, Colorado, 1893, 1900 and 1908. Louisville, Colorado cemetery records, accessed at http://files.usgwarchives.org/co/boulder/cemeteries/louisville.txt Archival materials on file at the Louisville Historical Museum, including Dec. 28, 1933 newspaper article entitled "Celebrate Golden Wedding." The article is unidentified, but believed to be from the Louisville Times. Louisville, Colorado building permit files 3