Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2022 09 19

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immigrants, of whom there were many in Louisville. The lead article of the Fall 2022 issue of the Louisville Historian describes this context and details Mike Colacci's bootlegging activities and how it was his ability to pay off a loan with proceeds from illegal sales of alcohol that made it possible for the Blue Parrot Restaurant to survive and succeed. Bootlegging was risky, but could be lucrative. The Lafayette Leader newspaper on Sept. 26, 1924 featured the following article on its front page, describing a raid on what in all likelihood was 1209 Main (given the lack of evidence that Jim Colacci had any other homes in Louisville and given that 1209 Main is documented as having a basement): sOff 60M GETS MMULE STILL Collacci's Place raided, Still And barge Quar.ti- ties Of Hvocn Seixed "One of the most productive raids ever made on a moonshine plant in Boulder county was staged on Jim Colacci's place in Louisville last Friday just before noon by Sheriff Robert Blum, Deputy Sheriff Roy Reed and Federal prohibition officer J. R. Calloway. "Collacci is an unmarried, unnaturalized Italian and he and his place have been under surveillance by the authorities for some time past. Friday Sheriff Blum was tipped off that the time was ripe for a raid. Accordingly Blum and his posse descended upon Collacci's residence, which is located in a prominent place in Louisville. Entering the house the officers discovered a trap-door in the dining room. They lifted this door and descended down a ladder about ten feet into the basement. Here they found what they were looking for. There was confiscated a 15-gallon copper still, 30 gallons of whisky, 3 gallons of rare old wine, 400 gallons of corn sugar mash, several gallons of coloring fluid, 20 five -gallon jars, a number of glass containers, a few kegs, ten or twelve gallons of gasoline and 2 sacks of sugar. "It may be said in favor of Collacci that everything was spotlessly clean. The still and other articles were loaded into trucks and taken back to Boulder by Blum and his men. The still had a capacity of 50 gallons daily. One of the most interesting things found was the distiller's ledger. In this ledger were written the names of 165 customers who are indebted to Collacci for "merchandise rendered " Among the 165 names on the list are those of Boulder County lawyers, farmers, truck drivers, merchants, doctors, idle rich and others of various and sundry callings. It will make an interesting and instructive document if made public when Collacci's case is brought up for trial. 3 15