1005 Lafarge Historic Structure Assessment

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Historic Structure 1005 LaFarge Avenue Assessment 1005 La Farge Ave. History Legal Description: Lots 1 & 2, Block 4, Barclay Place Year of Construction: 1903-1931 (See discussion below) Architect: Unknown Previous addresses used to refer to this property: 502 La Farge and 504 La Farge, under Louisville's old system of addresses that changed in the late 1930s. Also, in the 1952-53 Louisville directory, 1005 La Farge is given as the address of the business, and 1005 % is given as the address of the residence. Summary: This property was used for a combination of residential and commercial purposes from the early 1900s until at least the 1950s. It was the site of the Allera residence and grocery store, then a residence and doctor's office used by three different physicians and one chiropractor. Although La Farge Avenue was primarily made up of residential buildings, this address is one of at least six La Farge properties that historically were non-residential. Development of the Barclay Place Subdivision; Allera Ownership of Lots The Barclay Place Subdivision in which the house sits was platted in 1897. In 1903, John Allera (1882-1905) married Domenica "Kate" Fenolia (1884-1936). She had grown up nearby at 920 La Farge. Her parents, Batista Fenolia and Louisa Buffo Fenolia, who had been born in Italy, still lived there. Also in 1903, John Allera purchased these lots from the developers of Barclay Place. It is likely that this location was chosen in part because of its proximity to Kate Allera's parents' home. The 1904 Louisville directory lists the couple as living in Barclay Place, which would likely have been at this location, since they didn't own other real property. Information about John Allera's origins could not be located, but it is believed that he was born in Italy or of Italian parents. John and Kate Allera had two sons. Joseph and John. In December 1905, John Allera died of unknown causes when his younger son was just five days old. In 1909, Kate Allera opened a grocery store on Main Street in order to help support her children. In 1910, she had a store built at what is today 1005 La Farge, on the family's property right next to their home. It seems likely that this enabled her to not have to pay rent for the store space on Main Street. Page