712 Spruce St Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL 926 Temporary Resource Number: 157508426003 32. Intermediate use(s): N/A 33. Current use(s): Domestic, Single Dwelling 34. Site type(s): Urban residence 35. Historical background: This building is part of Jefferson Place, the first residential subdivision in Louisville. This property at 712 Spruce has a connected history with the property next door at what is now 700 Spruce (5BL11318). In addition to sharing history with that property, it was also the home of Angelo and Rachel Ferrari for at least 47 years. Rachel Ferrari was the daughter of Peter and Savina Zarini, and she grew up nearby at 804 La Farge (5BL7983). Besides 712 Spruce and 804 La Farge, Peter and Savina Zarini and their children and grandchildren also owned and/or lived in at least the following other houses that were close by in Jefferson Place: 801 Spruce (5BL11320), 817 Spruce (5BL8027), 808 La Farge (5BL7985), 822 La Farge 5BL7991), and 825 La Farge (5BL7993). Additionally, Peter Zarini's brother Joseph and his large family lived in the same block, at 824 La Farge (5BL7992). The first owner of the property at 700 Spruce and 712 Spruce (after Jefferson Place developer Charles Welch) was Mary Ann Kerr, by a deed recorded in 1893. Historical records indicate that this was Mary Ann Rosenbaum, who grew up in Boulder County as the daughter of the Anton and Mary Rosenbaum family, a farming family who moved to Louisville. She was born in 1864 or 1865. She married Thomas Kerr, who was the son of David Kerr, on whose farm coal was discovered in 1877. It was on this farm that the Welch Mine, Louisville's first mine, was established that year. David Kerr had come to Colorado in about 1860 and soon after began to homestead on Coal Creek on property still owned by descendants of the family, the Mayhoffers. According to the 1900 census, the Thomas and Mary Ann Kerr family was living at 700 Spruce, based on known Jefferson Place neighbors being listed near them. Thomas Kerr was the superintendent of a coal mine. Their children were David, John William ("Willie"), and Thelma ("Thelmie"). They were likely the owners who had 712 Spruce constructed on their property, based on available evidence. Thomas Kerr died by 1904 of unknown causes. By the time of the 1904 directory for Louisville, May Kerr (assumed to be Mary Ann Kerr) was listed as having been widowed and living at the corner of Jefferson and Spruce, which is an accurate description of 700 Spruce. Their son, David Kerr, was also old enough to be listed as living there. Mary Ann Kerr remarried in 1906 to John Unger. He had been born in 1865 in Austria Hungary or Germany and worked as a carpenter. His wife, Mary, had died. He had a daughter, Artie, who was the same age as Mary Ann's daughter, Thelma Kerr. The 1910 census shows that John Unger and Mary Ann Kerr Unger lived at what strongly appears to be 700 Spruce with their daughters, Thelma and Artie. However, they moved to Huerfano County not long after this, and certainly by 1916. The County gives 1900 as an estimated date of construction for this house at 712 Spruce. Boulder County has sometimes been found to be in error with respect to historic buildings in Louisville. However, no evidence was found that would suggest a different year of construction. It seems safe to assume that the owners rented out 712 Spruce while residing at 700 Spruce, or used 712 Spruce for relatives. The property in question is outside of the boundaries of the Sanborn Maps that were done for Louisville in 1893, 1900, and 1908 (they focused on the downtown business district and La Farge Avenue only). The house at 712 Spruce does not appear in the correct location on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map of Louisville. However, that 1909 map showed only the primary building on a particular property. At the time, the parcel likely included the two houses of 700 Spruce and 712 Spruce, with 700 Spruce clearly the primary property that does appear on the map. 712 Spruce does appear next to 700 Spruce on the Methodist Church Map of Louisville that was made in circa 1923-25. Property records indicate that Mary Ann Kerr Unger continued to own 700 Spruce and also 712 Spruce. Both of the houses at 700 and 712 Spruce are believed to have been rented out at this time. 3