1001 Main St Historic Survey - Tomeo House 1011 Main

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Resource Number: 5BL908 Temporary Resource Number: N/A Architectural Inventory Form (Page 3 of 5) V. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS 31. Original use(s): Single Dwelling 32. Intermediate use(s): Single Dwelling 33. Current use(s): Recreation and Culture / Museum 34. Site type(s): Residence / Museum Building 35. Historical Background This property was associated with the Tomeo family in Louisville from the time it was built, until the 1980s, when it was acquired by the City of Louisville for interpretive use as a historic miner's cabin. Felix and Lena Tomeo (Tomao) came to Louisville in the years between 1898 and 1903. Felix, like many Louisville men of his generation, worked as a coal miner. The 1904 Boulder County Directory lists Felix and Lena Tomeo, as well as Flora Tomeo, simply as living at "Barclay Place." This property is within the Barclay Place Addition, which had been platted in 1897. Other members of the Tomeo family, also living in the Barclay Place Addition, included Mike and Lucia Tomeo, as well as Nick Tomeo, who was in the saloon business. By the 1910s, the Tomeo family is listed at this address, then known as 514 Second Street. Felix had evidently passed away by 1921, as Lena is listed here as his widow. The 1928 Boulder County Directory lists several members of the Tomeo family living at this address. In addition to Lena, these included, Dominic (a driver for L.W. McCorkle's City Market), Eugene and Joseph (both laborers), and Rena and Rosa (both students). Dominic Tomeo continued his employment at McCorkle's City Market for several years. In 1936 he was working as a clerk at the store, and in 1940, he was a meat cutter there. By the early 1950s, Joseph Tomeo had opened up "Joe's [sheet] Metal Shop" on the lot just to the south of this cabin. Joe and Dominic Tomeo both worked at the sheet metal shop, which existed into the early 1970s. During the 1980s, the City of Louisville negotiated the purchase of three lots at the northwest corner of Main and South Streets, from the Tomeo family. The building at the corner (formerly the Jacoe Grocery and Market) was renovated for use as the Louisville Historical Museum, the remains of the sheet metal shop were cleared away, and this small dwelling at 1011 Main Street was preserved for interpretation as a miner's cottage. 36. Sources of Information (Boulder County) "Real Estate Appraisal Card - Urban Master", on file at the Boulder Carnegie Library. "Commission Gets Tomeo Property." Louisville Times, September 21, 1983, p. 1. "Louisville Negotiating for Site of Museum." Boulder Daily Camera, August 4, 1983. Polk'sBoulder County Directory [generally published annually], Denver, Kansas City, and Salt Lake City: R.L. Polk and Company Publishers. Polk'sLongmont City Directory, [generally published annually], Denver, Kansas City, and Salt Lake City: R.L. Polk and Company, Publishers, 1966 - 1997.