1501 Empire Rd History - Joe's Metal Shop

Home Browse Search

Next, the pre-engineered metal building that would become the metal shop was placed on the property and Joe Tomeo began to operate it as "Joe's Metal Shop." An article in the March 11, 1948 Louisville Times that listed all of the changes that had come to Main Street stated that "Joe Tomeo has a metal shop north of Jacoe's grocery." In August 1948, the Town of Louisville paid Joe's Metal Shop for sharpening lawn mowers. The availability of digitized and searchable Louisville Times issues on the Colorado Historic Newspapers website in the time since the initial report on the history of this property was written in 2013 has made it possible to find more relevant evidence regarding the date of construction of the building. However, there is still a bit of mystery surrounding the date of construction. Based on the two 1948 Louisville Times articles, it would seem dispositive that the building was put up in 1948, but the County Assessor card that includes the above photo of the empty area where Joe's Metal Shop had not yet been put up was dated Sept. 1, 1948 (after the date of the articles). However, it is possible that the photo was taken before the date on which the card was filled out, and in the absence of other evidence, the construction year is presumed to be 1948. (The County lists a commercial utility building located at 1501 Empire Rd. that is 912 square feet in size and that was constructed in 1980; this is possibly a reference to the Joe's Metal Shop building, although the building was clearly put up on Main Street long before 1980.) According to online sources, it was World War II that made pre-engineered metal buildings accessible to the general public. During the war, the U.S. military quickly erected buildings such as airplane hangars and Quonset huts that were made out of prefabricated steel. Following World War II, builders found that pre-engineered buildings were cost-effective and lightweight, and could be constructed quickly. In fact, an advertisement appeared in the April 25, 1946 Louisville Times newspaper by Metal Buildings, Inc. in Denver for prefab steel garages. The ad touted their benefits, which included their being practical, fireproof, weatherproof, watertight, safe, and economical. The following undated photo shows the Jacoe Store, Joe's Metal Shop, and Tomeo House in the late 1940s or early 1950s, not long after the Metal Shop was put up: 4