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Gigi Yang Louisville Historical Museum Department of Cultural Services City of Louisville, Colorado January 2024 I Cityoj Louisville 824 Lee Ave. Legal description: LOTS 1 2 & 3 BLK 3 LOUISVILLE EAST Year of Construction: circa 1935 (see discussion below) Summary: Ownership of this property is primarily focused on the Paxton and Browning families through multiple generations and the development of East Louisville. The house itself is notable for being moved from Erie and the site is currently adjacent to the historic Trott -Downer Cabins. Development of East Louisville Addition The history of the East Louisville Addition originated with Charles C. Welch, a prominent businessman and figure in Colorado history who started the first coal mine in Louisville and was the primary person behind the establishment of Louisville as a town. His wife, Rebecca Jeannette Welch, transferred the land to brothers William J. Lee and George A. Lee, who platted the area in 1906, creating the East Louisville Addition. The subdivision is located across the railroad tracks from the commercial core of Old Town Louisville and most of the rest of the town. The area includes Miners Field and the streets of South, Walnut, Spruce, Park, and Lee between the railroad tracks and today's Highway 42. Houses in the East Louisville neighborhood are characterized by their close proximity to Miners Field, a historic ball field dating back to the late 1800s, and to their close proximity to the railroad. Not only is the main railroad line nearby, but a railroad spur cut through from northwest to southeast and bordered the block where 824 Lee is situated. Earliest Ownership The earliest record of property ownership dates to 1907 when Catherine Davis purchased the land from the Lee brothers for $75. A year later, she sold the lot to Gina Guenze. Not much is known about either woman. There were several branches of the Guenzi family that lived in East Louisville but there is not a clear relationship with Gina Guenze. There is evidence that Gina Guenze (Guenzi) lived at other addresses in Louisville and that the land remained undeveloped. At some point after 1908, ownership of the lot reverted to Boulder County until 1952. There is no indication that the land was developed from the Drumm's 1909 Map of Louisville and subsequent aerial photos of Louisville from 1941, and there is no assessor's card from 1948.