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Resource Number: 5BL 11324
<br />Temporary Resource Number: 157508405013
<br />The house was probably built in 1904, although the records are not definitive regarding this date. A rear porch
<br />was enclosed and a patio roof added prior to 1948. The current patio awning is likely a more recent
<br />modification. The building was re -sided with steel siding in 1975. Windows were replaced in modified
<br />openings, front door replaced and the front porch roof structure replaced at an unknown date after 1948. It is
<br />likely that this work was done in 1975 when the siding was replaced. Wood shingle roofing was replaced with
<br />asphalt shingle roofing after 1948. A wood garage, described as "worthless" on the 1948 Assessor card, was
<br />removed at an unknown date after 1948.
<br />30. Original location X Moved Date of move(s):
<br />V. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS
<br />31. Original use(s): Domestic, Single Dwelling
<br />32. Intermediate use(s): N/A
<br />33. Current use(s): Domestic, Single Dwelling
<br />34. Site type(s): Urban residence
<br />35. Historical background:
<br />This building is part of Jefferson Place, the first residential subdivision in Louisville.
<br />The history of 709 Walnut is closely connected with that of 711 Walnut (5BL11325), next door to the east. Both of
<br />these houses were associated with the Buffo family, members of which also owned 909 La Farge (5BL7996), 913 La
<br />Farge (5BL11285), 920 La Farge (5BL7999), 936 La Farge (5BL8002), and 937 La Farge (5BL11286) in the
<br />Jefferson Place subdivision. The Buffo family has owned 709 Walnut for 74 years, as of 2012.
<br />By warranty deeds recorded in 1893 and 1894, Charles C. Welch, the developer of Jefferson place, sold the lots on
<br />which 709 and 711 are situated to Mike Longgeger (also stated to be "Langgeger" and "Langgiger"), a coal miner
<br />who had been born in Austria in 1848 and who came to the US in 1883. Longgeger died in 1907.
<br />The 1900 census records show that Lodovica Fornengo Obele (also stated to be "Obole") was a widow living in
<br />Louisville with her five children. She was renting a house in the vicinity of 709 Walnut at that time, although the exact
<br />location could not be determined.
<br />In 1903, Lodovica Obele purchased the lots that make up 709 Walnut and 711 Walnut from Mike Longgeger. Also in
<br />1903, Lodovica married John Vercellono, a coal miner. (His name is also spelled in the records as Verseallono,
<br />Vercellone, Vecerallono, Vercelloni, Versellono, and Vircellono.)
<br />Both Lodovica and John Vercellono were born in Italy, Lodovica in 1862 and John in about 1868. Records suggest
<br />that Lodovica may have also gone by the name of "Alice" and "Allie."
<br />The 1904 directory for Louisville shows that Lodovica and John Vercellono were residing at this location ("Walnut
<br />btw. Jefferson & Lafarge") by that year. The 1910 census records also show that they were living here. The residents
<br />of the house at that time were listed as John Vercellono; Lodovica Vercellono; her children from her Obele marriage
<br />(James Obele, 20, John Obele, 18, Charlie Obele, 15, and Margaretta Obele, 13); and their children together (Joe
<br />Vercellono, 5, and Katherine or Catherine Vercellono, 3). John Vercellono was a miner, while son James Obele
<br />(who had been born in Italy) was a mechanic, and son John Obele was a blacksmith.
<br />Similarly, the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census records show the Vercellono family to be living at this location.
<br />John Vercellono is believed to have died between 1930 and 1932. Lodovica Vercellono continued to live in the house
<br />at 709 Walnut, and died in 1937.
<br />Boulder County gives 1905 as an estimated date of construction for this house. However, the County has sometimes
<br />been found to be in error with respect to the dates of construction of historic buildings in Louisville. The property in
<br />question is outside of the boundaries of the Sanborn Maps that were done for Louisville in 1893, 1900, and 1908
<br />(they focused on the downtown business district and La Farge Avenue only), so these maps cannot shed light on the
<br />question of the construction date for 709 Walnut. For the house at 709 Walnut, the year of construction could not be
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