913 LaFarge Ave Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL 11285 Temporary Resource Number: 157508405009 V. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS 31. Original use(s): Domestic, Single Dwelling 32. Intermediate use(s): N/A 33. Current use(s): Domestic, Single Dwelling 34. Site type(s): Urban residence 35. Historical background: This building is part of Jefferson Place, the first residential subdivision in Louisville. The house that exists now is a modular home that was placed on the lot in 1976, replacing an earlier house built ca. 1890. The historical background information that follows refers to the 1890 house. The 1902 house is one of several properties in Jefferson Place with which the Buffo family was associated, in addition to 709 Walnut (5BL11324), 711 Walnut (5BL7995), 909 La Farge (5BL7996), 920 La Farge (5BL7999), 936 La Farge (5BL8002), and 937 La Farge (5BL11286). Charles C. Welch, the developer of Jefferson Place, sold this property to Louis Wattelet by 1893. Wattelet was born in 1851 and his wife, Louise, was born in 1854; they both came from France. Evidence that they lived at this location could not be located, and they are primarily known to have been residents of Superior. However, the Wattelet family did have a connection to Jefferson Place. Louis and Louise Wattelet's daughter, also Louise Wattelet, married Julian Gradel in 1892. Julian and Louise Gradel lived with their children in the Jefferson Place Addition near this location at 738 Jefferson (5BL858) during the 1890s. Louise Wattelet Gradel was also later the sole owner of 738 Jefferson, and was an owner of 620 Jefferson (5BL11292), under her other married name of Kilhoffer. The Boulder County Assessor card for this property indicates that a house was constructed in 1902. The date of 1902 is likely later than when this building was originally built. The house is shown on the 1893, 1900, and 1908 Sanborn maps (and on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map). Based on the logic of the 2000 survey completed on 909 La Farge next door (for which the date of construction is believed to be circa 1890 as opposed to the County's date of 1900), the original date of construction for the house is likely to have also been circa 1890. Online Boulder County property records indicate that the owner of 913 La Farge for twenty years from 1914 to 1934 was Michael Erbi. Louisville directories from 1918 to 1932 do show him living at this location. The address for this property under Louisville's old address system was stated to be 410 La Farge, except when it was given as 414 La Farge in 1918 and 1928. The 1930 census also shows Erbi living on this block of La Farge. He was widowed and living alone. The census record also shows that he was born in about 1860 in Italy, had come to the US in 1891, and was a coal miner. Online County records indicate that 913 La Farge was purchased by Dominic Buffo in 1934. Dominic (1900-1976), a coal miner, had grown up at 936 La Farge as the son of Michael and Maria Buffo, and his sister owned and resided at 937 La Farge. Dominic married Lillian Mae Majors (1902-1990) in 1921. Dominic and Lillian Buffo also owned 909 La Farge from 1926 to 1944, and they resided at 909 La Farge from at least 1930 to 1936. It is believed that this house, at 913 La Farge, was rented out during Buffo's ownership. In 1943, Dominic Buffo sold 913 La Farge and it was then owned by the Sandy family from 1943 to 1954. Louisville directories from 1946 to 1953 show the Sandy family (or at least Della, as Jeremiah died in 1950) as living here at 913 La Farge. Jeremiah B. Sandy (c. 1867-1950) and Della Sandy (1873-1973) were originally from West Virginia. They had eleven children. They came to Colorado in 1920 with five of their daughters. Jeremiah worked as a coal miner. Della Sandy was a member of the Louisville Apostolic Church, which was located just three doors away at the southwest corner of La Farge and Walnut (5BL7994). When Della Sandy died at the age of 100, according to her obituary, she left 8 children, 21 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 19 great -great-grandchildren, and 8 great -great -great- grandchildren. In 1954, Della Sandy sold 913 La Farge to Francis Seever. Although he is listed in Louisville directories at the time as having been an employee of Steinbaugh's, a Louisville lumber and hardware business, evidence that he actually lived at 913 La Farge could not be located. 3