Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2024 09 16

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SUMMARY: The applicant requests a finding of probable cause for landmark designation to allow for funding of a historic structure assessment for 1025 Front Street. Under Resolution No. 17, Series 2019, a property may be eligible for reimbursement for a historic structure assessment (HSA) from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) if the Historic Preservation Commission finds "probable cause to believe the building may be eligible for landmarking under the criteria in section 15.36.050 of the Louisville Municipal Code." Further, "a finding of probable cause under this Section is solely for the purposes of action on the pre-landmarking building assessment grant request, and such finding shall not be binding upon the HPC, City Council or other party to a landmarking hearing." HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Information from Gigi Yang, Louisville Historical Museum The history of 1025 Front Street illustrates the development of Louisville through investment in land and coal mining as well as the growth of immigrant populations through family ties. Of note are the early settlement by English and Welsh miners and later by Italian immigrants. The story of the Jacovetta and Bottinelli families reflect how national trends and movements around immigration and labor rights are embodied on an individual scale. Ownership of the property follows five families, beginning with early ownership by English -born William Beamond for mining and mineral rights and selling the surface rights to Joseph Butcher, a Welsh miner, in 1892. It is possible that Butcher built a house on the property, however records remain unclear about the use of the property during this time. Beamond went to become Mayor of Louisville, serving two terms from 1894-1895 and 1897-1898. The sale of both surface and mineral rights to the property occurred in 1905 to the Jacovetta family and in 1917 to the Bottinelli Family, both families of which were Italian immigrants who came to Louisville to work in coal mines. Notable history from this time includes the presence of Angelo Bottinelli and his son Tealie during the 1927 Columbine Mine Strike and Tealie's job as a mule driver for the 1st East Drivers in the Monarch Mine. The property was sold to the Colorado native-born Viggers Family in 1952 until 2001 when the current owners purchased the property. Please see the attached Social History Report for a more detailed history.