716 Pine St Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL 11315 Temporary Resource Number: 157508435002 Minnie Baessler was born in New York in 1891. She came with her parents to Louisville in 1907. As was mentioned, she died in 1946. Newton and Minnie Rockley had four children who lived in this house: Lester (1913-2005), Melvin (1917-1990, who was the founder of the Rockley Music Co. in Lakewood, CO); Carol (VanDenBos); and Jack (1920-1935). Louisville directories show that 716 Pine was the home of the Newton and Minnie Rockley family during his period of ownership from 1918 to 1931. Both the 1920 and 1930 census records show the family to be living in this location on Pine, and for both 1920 and 1930 they are listed next to their relatives, the Clarks, who lived at 708 Pine. "Newt" Rockley worked as a coal miner. Records indicate that he was also the town clerk and town marshal. He worked as a painter and wallpaper hanger in the 1920s. In 1931, Newton Rockley sold 716 Pine to the parents of his wife, Minnie Baessler, who were Gottlob "George" and Augusta Baessler. (Minnie Baessler Rockley was one of seven children.) Her parents then continued to own it and reside at 716 Pine. Following Augusta's death in 1932, Gottlob continued to own and reside in the house until his death in 1944. Gottlob Baessler (1888-1944) and Augusta Thoms Baessler (1864-1932) were both born in Germany. They had had a farm in Boulder County, not far from Louisville, prior to retirement. In 1944, the Baessler heirs, who included Minnie Rockley, transferred 716 Pine to Henry and Marie Vanderstraten, who were also associated with 817 Spruce (5BL8027) in Jefferson Place. They owned it until 1947. The house was a rental at this time, and directories show that its residents were Henry and Antoinette Goveshek. He was a miner at the Centennial Mine. Their children were Helen and Rosemarie. The next owners and residents, from 1947 to 1949, were James and Nina Brown. James Brown worked as a mechanic at the time that they lived in the home. The next owners, from 1949 to 1956, were Alvin and Alfreda Walker. They also lived in the house. Next, property records indicate that members of the Frank and Charlotte Nicholas family owned and resided at 716 Pine from 1956 to 1979. Frank Nicholas was a plumber at the time of the 1956 directory and a watchman at the time of the 1959 directory. In 1979, Remo and Guillermina D'Onofrio purchased the house at 716 Pine. They are believed to have been of Italian descent. Guillermina was born in Argentina, according to her obituary. She worked at Pasquale's Restaurant on Main Street in Louisville and lived from 1932 to 2008. Remo D'Onofrio lived from 1923 to 1997. Today, the house is owned by Rodolfo D'Onofrio. 716 Pine was known as 420 Pine in the 1910s and 1920s, under Louisville's old address system. In the early 1930s, it was known as 430 Pine. In 1940, it was known as 706 Pine. It was called 716 Pine at the time of the 1943 directory, then the address changed to 710 Pine in 1946 and 713 Pine in 1949 before going back to 716. 4