823 Garfield Ave History - Laserfiche WebLink

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(The builder named Unger who was mentioned in the article was likely John Unger, who was identified in the 1906 Louisville directory as being a carpenter and builder. Mary Weaver's inheritance that was referenced in the article may have come from her parents, who died in 1906 and 1908.) After the death of John Weaver in 1926, Mary Weaver rented out rooms in the house to Louisville teachers. From about 1920 to 1939, the Louisville High School, which also served as the Junior High, was situated on the east side of the 800 block of Garfield, almost directly across from the house at 823 Garfield. Historical records give the names of teachers who lived at 823 Garfield. The 1930 federal census shows Betty Ornstein, Mary Monson, and Grace Bullard to be living there with Mary Weaver. According to a 1930 Louisville directory, the teachers renting rooms there were Mary Monson, Grace Bullard, and Verona Brooks. In 1932 and 1936, Grace Bullard and Verona Brooks were still there, plus Miriam West. Also, the Museum staff has heard stories of students going to the house after school for tutoring by their teachers. In 1936, Mary Weaver conveyed her ownership of the property to her daughter, Ruth Weaver Machin. Mary Weaver died in 1937, and the location of the High School changed soon after. Ruth Machin lived with her own family in Boulder and appears to have continued to rent out the house at 823 Garfield. Louisville directories from 1943 and 1946 indicate that the residents at that time were Richard and Margaret Vaughan. Richard was a railroad employee and the family previously lived in the Broomfield Depot building. Their son, Robert, served in World War II as an upper turret gunner in a B-17 Fortress bomber and was killed in a 1944 raid over Berlin. His was one of ten deaths of Louisville servicemen and women in World War II. Berry Family Ownership, 1946-1972 In 1946, Ruth Weaver Machin sold 823 Garfield, which still consisted of five lots, to three siblings from the Berry family — specifically, Stanley Berry (1921-2001), Howard Berry (1926-1981), and Phyllis Berry (Waters) (born 1923). The house became the home of their parents, Ira Washington Berry (1885-1961) and Hope Tillman Berry (1893-1980). Other children in the family were Richard Berry (1917-1989), Dorothy Berry Varra (1920- 2018) and Wesley Berry (1931-2013). In 1936, the Berry family moved to Colorado from Illinois and lived at the Monarch Mining camp. In Illinois, Ira Berry, the father, had worked as a railroad brakeman. In Illinois and in Colorado, Ira Berry worked as a coal miner. In 1946, Ira and Hope Berry began to make their home at 823 Garfield along with some of their children. The family became active in Louisville community life. Hope Berry was very active as a member of the Garden Club and is remembered for having grown flower in her yard at 823 Garfield. 3