928 LaFarge Ave Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL 918 Temporary Resource Number: 157508404002 The original part of the house was built around 1890. Siding was initially replaced in 1975, according to building permits, but it appears to have been replaced twice. The current owners, the Karpels, were told that the current living room is the oldest part of the house, and that the dining room was added later. They were also told that the house was enlarged at some point by connecting it with a small dwelling that was behind the house. The two-story addition was built in 1995, with interior finished completed by the current owners after 2000. They also repaired the front porch, including the replacement posts. The garage was replaced in 2003. 30. Original location X Moved Date of move(s): 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. 928 La Farge was the home of the Antonio and Libra Porta family for at least 49 years. Libra Porta was a midwife who delivered many babies in Louisville, particularly those from Italian families. A neighbor and relative of the Porta family has stated that this is a home where Saint Francesca Xavier Cabrini ("Mother Cabrini") stayed when she would come to Louisville. Antonio Porta acquired this property directly from Jefferson Place developr Charles Welch, with the warranty deed recorded in 1897. It is possible that Porta purchased the property even earlier, as it has been found that documents were not always recorded immediately. Also, the 1893 Sanborn map shows that there was already a house on this site by that time, and the online Boulder County Assessor records give the year of construction as 1890. Libra Porta's 1937 obituary states that the family moved to Louisville in 1890. The Porta family was certainly among the first Italian families to settle in Louisville. Antonio Porta is listed in the 1892 Louisville directory as already being a Louisville resident. This house appears in the correct location on the 1893, 1900, and 1908 Sanborn maps (although the north side of the house is not shown on any of these three maps), and on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map. The Boulder County Assessor card from 1948 gives 1905 as the date of construction, but this would have been a date estimated long after the fact, and contradicts the other date from the County of 1890. The house clearly appears to have been on this site by 1893 at the latest. Based on the foregoing evidence, the construction year is likely circa 1890. Antonio Porta (1852-1931) and Libra Porta (1852-1937) immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s. (Information on where they came from in Italy could not be located.) They came first to Marshall, a nearby coal mining community, as did a number of other Italians who settled in Louisville. They had eight children, of whom four survived to adulthood: John G., John L., Joe, and Henry. The oldest of these four was born in Italy in 1880, while the others were born in Colorado after 1890. Antonio and Libra's son, Henry, married Edith Zarini, daughter of Joseph and Virginia Zarini of 824 La Farge (5BL7992) in Jefferson Place. Henry and Edith lived at 917 La Farge (5BL7998). John L. Porta had a pool room in the 800 block of Main Street in the 1920s and was married to Katie Mossoni of Louisville. Joe Porta served in World War I, married Vivian Leach, was a City Trustee, and lived at 1101 La Farge (5BL916). Information about John G. Porta could not be located for this report. Relatives of the Porta family tended to live very close by, many of them across the street on the west side of the 900 block of La Farge. Libra's brother, Peter Giorzelli, also lived nearby at 1000 La Farge (5BL8471). Many current area residents of the Louisville area are descended from the Antonio and Libra Porta family. Antonio Porta was a coal miner, while Libra Giorzelli Porta was a midwife who delivered babies in Louisville. Many members of the community called her "Zia," which is Italian for "Aunt." The following photo shows Antonio and Libra Porta: 3