712 Spruce St Historic Survey - Laserfiche WebLink

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Resource Number: 5BL 926 Temporary Resource Number: 157508426003 Mary Ann Kerr Unger died in Huerfano County in 1928. Following her death, her heirs, who were her husband, John Unger, and children David Kerr, John William Kerr, and Thelma Kerr Furphy, in 1931 transferred their interests in 700 Spruce and 712 Spruce to David Kerr. He then sold the two parcels with their two houses to Newton Rockley. Newton Rockley was the brother of Emma Rockley Clark, who lived at 708 Pine (5BL11314) in Jefferson Place, and he owned and lived at 716 Pine (5BL11315) in Jefferson Place from 1918 to 1931. Newton Rockley was born in Kansas in 1887; his parents were from England and, interestingly, married in 1864 in Constantinople, Turkey. He married Minnie Baessler in 1912. Minnie Baessler was born in New York in 1891; she came with her parents to Louisville in 1907. Following her death in 1946, he married Martha Davis. He died in 1969. The following photo from the collection of the Louisville Historical Museum shows Newt Rockley: Louisville directories show that 700 Spruce, the primary property on the parcel that at the time included 712 Spruce, was the home of Newton and Minnie Rockley and their four children from 1931 to 1943. He worked as a miner during most of the 1930s, but in 1943, his occupation was listed as police magistrate while listed as living at 700 Spruce. At the time, the Rockleys are believed to have been lessors who rented out 712 Spruce that was also on their property. The 1936 directory shows that Angelo and Rachel Ferrari were already living at 712 Spruce at that time. Rockley then sold it to Angelo and Rachel Ferrari in 1939 (that being the year that the deed was recorded), and it would be owned by the Ferrari family until 1983. Rachel Zarini Ferrari was born in Louisville in 1896 as one of the children of Peter and Savina Zarini of 804 La Farge (5BL7983) in Jefferson Place, just a few houses away. She married Angelo Ferrari in 1915. They had a daughter, Edith (Dake). According to a Zarini family history, "Rachel was an outstanding seamstress and made many costumes for school programs as well as sewing clothes for members of the family and friends." The following photo shows Rachel Ferrari with her four Zarini sisters at the home where they grew up at 804 La Farge, near 712 Spruce: Angelo Ferrari was born in 1895. His obituary noted that he was a member of the United Mine Workers of American and was a retired coal miner. Directories show that he was also a town marshal and constable, similar to Newton 4