920 LaFarge Ave Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Resource Number: 5BL 7999 Temporary Resource Number: 157508404003 Kate Fenolia Allera, after the death of her husband at a young age in 1905, operated one of Louisville's small neighborhood grocery stores for many years. Her store and home were located on the northwest corner of La Farge and South, just across the street to the north from Jefferson Place and very near to 920 La Farge. Her store was advertised on the Rex movie curtain commissioned by the owner of 825 La Farge (5BL7993) and the Rex Theatre, Santino Biella: K,ALLERA GROCERIES FLOUR FEED 004 Christine Fenolia married Charles Zarini of Louisville. The Fenolia and Zarini families had been neighbors in Marshall before moving to La Farge Avenue in Jefferson Place, the Zarinis to 824 La Farge (5BL7992) and the Fenolias to 920 La Farge. Together, Charles and Christine operated downtown businesses such as a skating rink, a confectionery store, a liquor store, and the Front Street Cafe, now the Old Louisville Inn (5BL8036). Their confectionery store also was advertised on the Rex movie curtain commissioned by the owner of 825 La Farge and the Rex Theatre, Santino Biella: CHAS. Z' A R I N 1 eonfectio r� isz CREAM PARLOR Mary Fenolia married Nicholas DiFrancia of 1045 La Farge nearby. The DiFrancias were in the saloon and pool hall business on Front Street in Louisville. Jim Fenolia married a girl from nearby in Jefferson Place, Celia Bottinelli, who had grown up in the next block at 822 La Farge (5BL7991) as the daughter of Baptist Bottinelli and Clementine Biella Bottinelli. Jim was Louisville's postmaster for twenty-nine years and also served as town clerk for several terms. Their son, Ronald Fenolia, whose four grandparents all lived on La Farge in Jefferson Place, has said that La Farge was "about ninety percent Italians."' Likely relatives and former family neighbors of the Fenolias from Prascorsano, Italy, Barney and Mary Enrietto, were living in a coal mining region of Illinois in the 1930s and were drawn to Louisville for health reasons. (Barney was born in 1892 and immigrated in 1921; Mary was born in 1898 and immigrated in 1923.) Barney was advised by his doctor to seek a drier climate. Mary Pianasso Enrietto's mother was a Buffo, and Mary's uncle was reportedly Michael Buffo, who lived at 936 La Farge (5BL8002). Louisa Fenolia's maiden name was also Buffo. It is strongly believed that the Enriettos, Fenolias, and Buffos were all related to one another back in Prascorsano, and certainly lent one another familial support in Louisville. Before Barney and Mary Enrietto and their son, Lawrence, came to Louisville, they were visited in Illinois by Battista and Louisa Fenolia's grandson, John Allera, who drove out with his friends, LeRoy Eberharter and Louis DeSantis. In 1937, Barney moved to Louisville, and he was joined by Mary and Lawrence in 1938. They were initially given accommodations in Kate Allera's empty store, as well as in the Michael Buffo home at 936 La Farge (5BL8002) and the Mary Buffo Bosone home at 937 La Farge, which is no longer extant. (Other members of the Enrietto family who also came from Illinois to Louisville to settle were Barney's brother, Peter, his wife, Laura, and their son, Robert.) Barney worked in the mines and in construction in Louisville; Mary worked at Remington Arms munitions factory during World War II and at the University of Colorado. 3