As part of a project to document Denver’s Italian community, the Colorado Historical Society recently acquired a butcher block from Cerrone’s Market, a north Denver grocery store. Made by the National Store and Fixture Company in Denver around 1885, the butcher block is one of a few original artifacts remaining from the market.

In 1893, Horace Palladino, Carmine D’Donato, and Frank Damascio opened the North Denver Mercantile Company at 3617 Osage Street in the heart of Denver’s "Little Italy." Damascio—famous for building the Brown Palace and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception—built the market adjacent to his own house. Damascio added many unique features, including a walk-in cooler (originally cooled by ice blocks) and several display cases. In 1928, Carmine D’Donato sold the company to Antonio Cerrone and his son, Ottey.

Born in Pescara, Italy, Antonio Cerrone landed in Boston in 1901 with $20 in his pocket. He made his way west to Utah, where he worked for the railroads and in a copper mill. While in Magna, Utah—a predominately Morman community—Antonio and his wife, Mary, hid their Italian identity. They changed their last name to Carson, prayed the rosary at home, and refrained from speaking Italian in public. In 1913, Antonio and Mary’s first child, Ludivicio Antillio Carson, or "Ottey," was born. By 1926, the family had grown to nine, including seven children between the ages of fourteen and two. Perhaps for financial reasons, family ties, or for new work opportunities, the Cerrone family moved from Utah to Colorado in 1928.

After acquiring the Mercantile in 1928, Antonio and Ottey changed its name to Cerrone’s. Father and son operated the store together until 1934, when Ottey took over the market’s day-to-day business. That same year, Ottey married Mildred Pedotto of Welby, Colorado. They lived in a house adjoining the market with their son Donald and daughter Mary Ann. A family business, the market offered imported goods from Italy, homemade sausage, fruits, breads, olives, and a variety of pasta. For several decades, Ottey and Mildred worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week, without a break or vacation. A. T. Cerrone’s —which received Denver Landmark status in 1982—was a centerpiece of Denver’s Little Italy neighborhood for many years. The market closed in 1995.

Today, the building that housed A. T. Cerrone’s Market is home to The Tango House, a business offering dancing lessons and activities related to the Argentine Tango. Recently, The Tango House owner Chas Gale generously donated several items to the Society, including the butcher block featured here.