937 LaFarge Ave Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL 11286 Temporary Resource Number: 157508405001 The house was likely constructed in ca. 1892. The current configuration bears little resemblance to historic photographs dating from the 1970s and from 1948. In 1975, under the auspices of the Louisville Urban Renewal Authority (LURA), the patio was replaced, chimney removed, roof structure strengthened, gutters replaced, and the cellar foundation was replaced. City files contain a 1988 building permit for unspecified alterations; presumably the large two-story west addition was constructed at that time and the building became a multiple -unit residence. 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, Multiple Dwelling 34. Site type(s): Urban residence 35. Historical background: This building is part of Jefferson Place, the first residential subdivision in Louisville. Historically, this was the home of two Louisville families: a German family, the Bammers, and an Italian family, the Bosones. Mary Buffo Bosone, by all accounts, lived her entire 85 years in two houses across the street from each other in Jefferson Place: 937 La Farge and 936 La Farge (5BL8002). Joseph Bammer acquired this property from Jefferson Place developer Charles Welch in 1892. Joseph and Maria Bammer had come from Germany in either the 1870s or early 1880s. By the time of the 1885 Colorado state census, they were living in Louisville. Both born in 1853, they had 13 children, of whom only 6 lived to adulthood. These children included Barbara, John, Lizzie, Peter, and Marie. Joseph was a coal miner, as were his sons. This location is not shown on Louisville's three Sanborn maps, so the Sanborn maps are not aids in ascertaining the year of construction of this house. The Boulder County online records and the 1948 County Assessor card both indicate that the house was built in about 1900. Given that the Bammers acquired it in 1892, and had several children (and given that the County dates of construction for Louisville homes have frequently been found to be in error), it seems possible that the original house was constructed even earlier. The house is shown on the 1909 Drumm's Wall Map. Joseph Bammer first appears in Louisville directories in the 1890s. The family is shown as living in the correct location on this corner of La Farge on the 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal census records. The family surname was found to have been spelled in different ways in directories and property records over the years, including: Bamer, Barmer, Baumer, Bommer, and even Palmer. Maria Bammer died in 1921. Joseph Bammer continued to live in the house with his son, Peter, and Peter's wife, Ann Odenbaugh. In 1930, Joseph Bammer was close to 80, Peter was about 35, and Ann was about 26. Peter Bammer later died in a mine accident (by 1948). Ann Bammer raised their children at 1117 Jefferson (5BL844) and later remarried in 1957 to Herman Winkler, who lived in Jefferson Place at 737 La Farge (5BL7982). See the report on that property for more information. Descendants of the Bammer family still live in the Louisville area. It is believed that Joseph Bammer died in the early to mid 1930s. In 1936, Mary Buffo Bosone purchased 937 La Farge from the administrator for Joseph Bammer's estate. Mary Buffo and Pancrazio Bosone had married the year before, in 1935. Mary Buffo was born in 1903 and grew up at 936 La Farge, across the street from 937. Her parents were Michael and Maria Buffo. The following photo shows 3