801 LaFarge Ave Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL852 Temporary Resource Number: 157508414012 houses are wood framed, one or one and one-half stories in height, featuring white or light-colored horizontal wood or steel siding, gabled or hipped asphalt shingled roofs and front porches. While many of the houses have been modified over the years, there is a clear intent to preserve the historic character of the neighborhood. 801 LaFarge is consistent with these patterns and blends well with the scale and character of the neighborhood. Located on a corner lot at the northwest corner of LaFarge and Spruce, it was designed as a visually prominent and locally rare two-story house. It has small grass lawns on the east and south sides enclosed with chain -link fencing. At the west end of the lot there is an outbuilding that is a combination garage and secondary residence, with a concrete drive from the garage to Spruce. The east side of the yard adjacent to the secondary residence is paved with concrete. Between the main house and secondary house there is a fenced grass lawn with a tree 9. Changes in Condition: None. 10. Changes to Location or Size Information: The house was moved west approximately 15 feet and north about 3 or 4 feet between 1950 and 1956. 11. Changes in Ownership: Same ownership as 2000 inventory form. 12. Other Changes, Additions, or Observations: Further research has yielded more information about the ownership and use of the building from when the Eberharter family owned it prior to the early 1930s, and some information about 801 and 805 La Farge (5BL7984) from the time of the Smith ownership after the 1930s. These two properties (on Lots 1 and 2) have always been owned together. 1.) 801 La Farge was the residence for Ludwig (sometimes referred to as "Louis") and Martha Baier Eberharter for nearly thirty years in the early 1900s and they operated a store next door (now 805 La Farge). Both Ludwig and Martha had been born in Germany and were part of Louisville's early German population. Martha Baier was living in Louisville by 1880, when she was 2 years old. Martha and Ludwig Eberharter achieved prominence in Louisville after somewhat humble beginnings when Ludwig was a coal miner. They came to own many properties and had a number of business interests. Ludwig was mayor in 1914-15. After he died in the 1930s, Martha continued to look after their business interests. In 1990, the Louisville Historical Commission and Chamber of Commerce posthumously honored Martha Eberharter with the Louisville Pioneer Award. A January 17, 1990 article from The Louisville Times states that "[t]he couple managed a series of successful investments, including a general merchandise store located at the northwest corner of Spruce and LaFarge [sic].... Eberharter saw to it that local miners received credit at her store through the summer months when they were out of work." According to their granddaughter, Claudine Eberharter Seader, the Eberharter cattle farm property located south of Boulder was taken by the federal government for the construction in the early 1950s of the Rocky Flats, a nuclear arms production complex. According to Seader, her grandparents also had an ownership interest in a local coal mine, the Hi -Way Mine, which was in operation from 1930 to 1954, and owned other businesses. Charles C. Welch, the developer of Jefferson Place, sold Lots 1 and 2 of Block 5 (now the location of 801 and 805 La Farge) to his sister-in-law, Lucy Welch, in 1882. Other early owners were William Hart (1882- 1892) and John and Helen Jasko (1892-1903). Martha Eberharter acquired Lots 1 and 2 in 1903. By 1904, she and her husband, Ludwig, were listed in the Louisville section of the Boulder County Directory as living at "Lafarge and Spruce," which would describe the location of 801 La Farge. Ludwig was listed as a "merchant." The federal census records for 1910, 1920, and 1930, each show Martha and Ludwig Eberharter living at this location on La Farge and having the general store. In 1910, Ludwig's occupation was listed as being the storekeeper of a general store, and Martha was the "sales lady" and their son, Frank, a "delivery boy." The Louisville sections of Boulder County Directories list the Eberharters and their grocery store throughout the 1903-1931 time period. The 1916 directory includes a listing of what they sold: "Genl mdse, Dry Goods, 2