733 Jefferson Ave Historic Survey

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Resource Number: 5BL 11301 Temporary Resource Number: 157508427002 The building was originally a house, built by 1904 at the latest and probably closer to 1900. A projecting bay that appears to be an addition on the southeast corner was built prior to 1948. A brick chimney has been removed and siding replaced since 1948. In 1974 an addition was constructed on the west side, the west lean- to roof was removed, the building was raised 18" onto a new foundation, the patio roof was re -supported, some windows replaced, and new electrical service installed. In 1994 the building was remodeled and its use changed to a day care center, designed by Craig Bundy. In 2003 the use was expanded to a pre -kindergarten and kindergarten Montessori school. 30. Original location X Moved Date of move(s): V. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS 31. Original use(s): Domestic, Single Dwelling 32. Intermediate use(s): Religion (church offices) 33. Current use(s): Education: School 34. Site type(s): Urban residence 35. Historical background: This building is part of Jefferson Place, the first residential subdivision in Louisville. This property at 733 Jefferson was owned by the Stoiber (pronounced "Stiber") family for 54 years. John and Mary Stoiber's sons, who were residents of the house with them, became businessmen in Louisville and Boulder. Today, the United Methodist Church owns 733 Jefferson and it is operated as the Jefferson Street Preschool. The first owner of the property, after Jefferson Place developer Charles Welch, was L. Berkner (also stated to be "Birckner"). Property records indicate that he acquired Lot 9 and Lot 10 separately, and he owned them both by 1884. That year, he sold them to Joseph Yuk. Joseph Kuen purchased the lots in 1888 and sold them in 1890 to John Stoiber (the name in the online records is given as "Stoiber"). This marked the beginning of 54 years of ownership by the Stoiber family. Census records indicate that John Stoiber was born in Austria in 1856, while Mary Stoiber was born in Germany in 1861. They came to the US in 1880. That is also the year in which records indicate that their first son, John M., was born in Pennsylvania. In 1890, they came to Louisville and purchased the property at 733 Jefferson. In 1894, their son Lawrence (also stated to be "Lorenz") was born in Louisville. John Stoiber Sr. worked as a coal miner. Between 1900 and 1904, however, he became a road overseer, and he is listed with this occupation in the 1904 and 1908 directories. He later became a miner once again, then worked as a fireman and at a billiard hall business with his son, Lawrence, in the late 1920s and in 1930. John Stoiber Sr. died in 1931. Records indicate that Mary Stoiber continued to live in the house at 733 Jefferson after the death of her husband. She died in 1944. The County gives 1904 as an estimated date of construction for this house, but it was likely constructed earlier. Boulder County has sometimes been found to be in error with respect to historic buildings in Louisville. In this case, there is some indication that the house was constructed prior to 1904, as John Stoiber owned this property not later than 1890 and had a wife and children who lived with him in Louisville, he did not own any other property in Louisville at the time, and he and his family were listed in the 1900 census records as living in this vicinity with neighbors known to have lived nearby on Jefferson. They are also listed in the 1904 Louisville directory as living on this block of Jefferson between Spruce and Pine. The property in question is outside of the boundaries of the Sanborn Maps that were done for Louisville in 1893, 1900, and 1908 (they focused on the downtown business district and La Farge Avenue only). The house at 733 Jefferson does appear in the correct location on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map of Louisville and on the Methodist Church Map of Louisville that was made in circa 1923-25. The Stoiber sons, John M. and Lawrence, were born about 15 years apart, but were both enterprising businessmen. John M. Stoiber was already working as a clerk at a store in Louisville by the time of the 1896 directory, when he was 15 or 16. In 1903, he married Mabel Carlton of Louisville's Carlton family. In 1904, he was working for the Louisville & 3