907 Taylor

In 1882 Jacob Gorny, a railroad carpenter, bought 2 lots (7 and 8) on the southwest corner of Union and Taylor.  Two houses face Union on those lots, and Jacob Gorny and his wife lived in both.  The 1910 census says that they were born in Poland and spoke German; the 1920 census says that they were born in Prussia and spoke Polish.  They probably spoke both languages.  They immigrated separately and were married in Harris Co. in 1881.  Jacob Gorny probably built 2303 Union in about 1883.  He was living there in 1884-85.  He probably built the ell-wing Folk Victorian cottage at 907 Taylor as a tenant house sometime between 1896 and 1907. However, the position of the ell-wing and the front porch suggests that the house may have been moved from another location, likely a south or west-facing one.

In 1926 the executor of Anges Gorney's estate sold the two lots to Gaetano Ligotino and his son Sam.  Gaetano Ligotino, commonly known as Joe Ligotino, was an Italian immigrant who was initially a street vendor of fruits and vegetables and then had his own real estate business.  The 4 houses on lots 7 and 8 were rental property during the Ligotino ownership and later until at least 2006.  Ligotino heirs sold them in 1979.

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