816 McKinley Historic Structure Assessment

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DA - DESIGN ARCH ITECTURE+INTERIORS Historical Background Development of Louisville Heights Subdivision The Louisville Heights Addition in which this house sits was first developed in 1904 by the Colorado Mortgage and Investment Co. Ltd. A number of lots were conveyed to Dr. Charles F. Wolfer, Nellie Affolter (as the wife and heir of John Affolter, who had been Wolfer's business partner), John Barnd, and James Miller. Connected History With 301 Spruce The Thompson family, longtime owners of 301 Spruce just to the south of 816 McKinley, originally acquired Lots 12 through 18 in 1908. However, now the property at 301 Spruce consists of Lots 12 through 16. Lots 17 `r and 18 now are the site of the house at 816 McKinley. The Museum Coordinator of the Louisville Historical Museum talked with the owners of 301 Spruce in early 2010. The owners said that the owner of 816 McKinley to the north of them had been Frank and his wife was Elizabeth when the owners of 301 Spruce moved in 24 years before. Frank Adkins told them that his house at 816 McKinley used to be the carriage house for 301 Spruce. It was located up against the north side of Lot 16, apparently, and was right on McKinley for street access. A carriage and horse were kept inside back then. Then it was moved to Lots 17 and 18. It is unclear exactly when this happened, and no documentation of this has been located. Ownership of 301 Spruce by Thompson Family, 1908 — 1961 (Fifty -Three Years) This information is included based on the house at 816 McKinley reportedly having been the carriage house for 301 Spruce. In 1908, John C. and Maggie Thompson purchased Lots 12 through 18 from Charles F. Wolfer, Nellie Affolter, John Barnd, and James Miller. According to Boulder County records, the house was constructed the same year. The house at 301 Spruce is shown on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map of Louisville located at the Louisville Historical Museum. By 1885, the Thompson family was in Louisville. According to the 1900 federal census, John C. Thompson (1855-1930) was born in Maryland; his parents had been born in Scotland. His wife, Maggie Boyd Thompson (1857-1945) was born in Scotland and emigrated in 1872. The 1910 census record indicates that Maggie had eight children, of whom five survived. These five children were Henry, born 1883; John, born 1884; George, born 1887; Grace, born 1891; and Arthur, born 1900. John C. Thompson worked in coal mines in the Louisville area. A directory from 1896 shows him as the foreman of the Hecla Coal Mine No. 2, and the 1900 census lists his occupation as "engineer." (This fits with the pattern of mine foremen from the earlier years of Louisville having been of British descent.) Maggie was listed as being a grocer in the 1900 census. Directories following 1908 show them as living on Spruce, although the address numbering system was not the same system as exists today. The 1926 and 1928 directories specifically place them on Spruce at the northeast corner of McKinley. John C. Thompson passed away in 1930 and Maggie continued to reside in the house. The 1930 federal census shows her among a list of people living on McKinley, which likely would indicate this particular house which is on the corner of McKinley and Spruce. Living with her for a time, at least in 1936, were her son, Henry, and his wife, Lorraine, and her son, George, his wife, Hilda, and their child, George, Jr. 816 WKINLEY AVE, PAGE - 7