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Longmont Ledger Special edition Sept 4, 1903
The Beautiful Highlandlake Country
The people of this part of Colorado know all about Highlandlake, but for
others, elsewhere, we shall say that it is in Weld County, about nine miles
northeast of Longmont. It was settled in 1871 by L. C. Meade (sic), F. P. Waite
and others, as noted elsewhere. It takes it's name from the beautiful lake
within it's limits, and is noted for it's fine, tall shade trees, fishing,
boating and productive soil.
Farms in this vicinity are all well cultivated and well
watered. The homes, almost without exception, are comfortable and neat. They are
frame buildings, in which good designs are combined with utility. The soil is a
rich loam. It is cultivated easily and is very fertile. Large crops of wheat,
oats, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, rye and alfalfa are the staple field crops,
of which there is an abundant yield. The writer inspected fields of winter wheat
estimated at 35 to 40 bushels per acres: fields of oats and barley that would
make 60 to 70 bushels, sugar beets 15 to 30 tons. Alfalfa is cut three times and
yields about eight tons per year. All this is done at nominal cost for water for
irrigation, which is derived from two sources, Highland ditch and Highland Lake.
Mr. Wm. Gateley, who owns stock in the lake supply,
state that the annual cost for water on his 160 acre farm is but $25.
Highlandlake public schools are above par in
excellence. There are about 100 pupils, which requires two teachers. Being an
intelligent and progressive people, the schools show a remarkable degree of
advancement and culture. The building is well arranged, attractive and
commodious.
A flourishing congregational society own a neat church
building of which Rev.. D. A. Strong is pastor.
The climate of the place attracts many eastern
tourists, who live in tents and board with the farmers. Right here is an opening
and a strong demand for a hotel building to accommodate the large number who
annually make their homes in this favored spot. Fishing, boating, scenery,
climate, social advantages, are all favorable to such an enterprise.
Although now three miles from the station, a new
railroad is only a question of time, as the surveys have been made.
If you desire health, wealth, and happiness, come to
Highlandlake.
Hon. L. C. Mead
Mr. Mead may justly be called the father of
Highlandlake. His is a Green Mountain boy and was reared and educated in his
native state. He came west in 1871 and while riding over the country he noticed
the depression and conceived the idea of filling it with water. He
homesteaded the section containing the future lake and worked for the results
seen in the views.
He acted as surveyor for the Longmont colony to build a
ditch but they failed to complete it. With A. D. Holt, he organized a company
and was its first superintendent. Highland ditch was finally a success and now
waters nearly half of the St. Vrain valley. From this ditch Highlandlake is
filled with fresh mountain water every year, and what was once a barren region
now blossoms as the rose. From this lake of 60 acres, 500 acres are irrigated,
the remaining country being supplied from the ditch direct.
Mr. Mead's brother, who died while consul to Nicaragua
bought 600 acres of railroad land adjoining
illegible adding 320 acres more. These lands were partially sold
and divided into smaller farms, all using lake water. Mr. Mead has a beautiful
home on the bank of the lake, surrounded with trees and shrubbery, all his
handiwork.
In 1879-1883 he represented Weld county in the
legislature and helped frame the state irrigation laws as chairman of that
committee. He was county clerk of Weld county two years, and resided in Greeley.
Mr. and Mrs. Meade (sic) have two sons and one daughter
in Washington, D. C.
George Ritchey, Post Master
As an example of what push and energy will
do for a man in the West, we refer the reader to the career of Mr. Richey, our
worthy post master, and old time merchant.
He was born and raised in Ohio, where he received a
liberal business education. In 1878, he located in Charleston, W. Va., and later
in Pittsburg, where he was agent for sewing machines. In 1882 he engaged in the
grocery business in Cincinnati, and met with success. Here his health failed,
and he sold out and came to Denver. After one year, having exhausted his funds,
and still in poor health, he started a peddling wagon with but $10 capital. This
had the desired effect, and his health was regained. In 1897 he built his
present store, and located in business at Highlandlake. Since then he has
enlarged the building and stock to meet the demands of the trade. The business
has been a success, although some predicted that the place could not support a
store. In March, 1898 he was commissioned post master, and was re-appointed last
year.
The stock embraces a general line of merchandise,
drygoods, notions, groceries, farm produce, etc. Good stock and low prices seem
to prevail here and Mr. Richey says he can and does sell the same goods cheaper
than they are sold in larger places. Three years ago he built a neat cottage on
the lot near the store and about that date was married to Miss Lucy Strong,
sister of Rev. Strong who is pastor of the Congregational church. That these two
events should occur simultaneously is but natural and proper.
B. L. Mills
If there is one thing that a man
enjoys more than an easy pair of slippers is an easy shave. This may be had at
the neat and up to date barber shop of Mr. Mills. When you have refreshed
yourself with a stylish hair cut, clean shave and shampoo, you can further add
to your comfort by buying a cool summer drink, and a good cigar. Then you can
buy a pound of choice candy for your sister.
Mr. Mills is agent for the City Steam laundry at
Longmont. He is a young man of experience and skill, which fact is known by the
neighbors who give him a liberal patronage.
Mr. & Mrs. Mills came here from Nebraska and have made
many friends.
E. H. Knott.
Mr. Knott is a prosperous farmer with that
push and energy that characterizes the successful western farmer and stockman.
His well kept hoe in Highlandlake stands on a fine seventy acre tract that will
make some of the most desirable building lots in the village. This place he
farms, and has a fine crop of wheat, estimated 45 bushels per acre, barley 60
bushels and potatoes that would make an Irishman and independent fortune.
He operates another ranch west of the lake, all in
alfalfa, which will make him about 400 tons of hay. His herd of 165 cattle are
kept on his hill ranch in the summer, but wintered here at the lake.
Mr. Knott was born in Iowa, spent his boyhood days at
Berthoud, after attending school there and at Greeley, he fed sheep with his
father and for himself until purchasing his present home two years ago.
Hemmingson & Glover
This firm is composed of Messrs. W. M. Hemmingson and Harry
Glover, two enterprising and thrifty young business men who have been running a
first class meat market in Highlandlake for the past two years. They have a neat
building in the village, well fitted up for the business and kept clean and
inviting. They are shrewd buyers and kill nothing but first class stock. They
also run a wagon four days during the week from which they supply a large
territory at a great convenience to the farmers. One route covers 45 and the
other 55 miles. They handle their own business and are able to more that compete
in prices with firms of other towns. They are accommodating, upright in business
methods, and have the confidence and respect of the entire community. Mr.
Hemmingson has the advantage of many years experience with stock.
Such a firm is a great advantage to any community and
should have the hearty support of all.
Fairview Farm
This farm home is about eighty rods from the Highlandlake post
office, and is the only hotel of the place. Wm. G. Gateley and his better half,
Mrs. Gateley, own and operate the farm to the satisfaction of the general
public.
We mention Mrs. Gateley in this connection advisedly,
for although Mr. G. owns and runs one of the best 160 acre farms around here and
has fine crops, we must give Mrs. G. the credit for the well-prepared and
substantial eatables served to a queen's taste during our stay at the Lake.
The dinning room service is above the average and the
rooms are well kept. The hostess knows how to look after the little details that
go to please the average boarder, as well as the transient guest.
But Mr. Gateley does his share too at the table as well
as on the farm, which only goes to show that he appreciated the above facts, but
is too modest to say anything about it.
He purchased the farm of 160 acres from the Mead
section four years ago and it is considered one of the best under the lake from
which he gets water. He farms all his land in wheat, barley, corn, alfalfa and
potatoes, all of which promise a good yield.
Mr. and Mrs. Gateley first came here in 1890 from
Colorado Springs, but after going to New Mexico, then back to the Springs, they
drifted back here, feeling that there were worse places and few better. They may
build a hotel on a larger scale should the trade seem to demand such a house.
R. S. True
The subject of this sketch was born in Pennsylvania and moved
to Illinois where he obtained his education, including a course in the high
school of Aurora, IL.
In 1871 he came to Longmont with the colony. He built
two houses that were among the first in Longmont, and engaged in the jewelry
business. In 1872, he was married to Miss Isadora Terry, daughter of Judge
Terry, president of the Longmont Colony.
In 1877, Mr. and Mrs. True moved to Highland (sic) and
engaged in farming until six years ago, when they sold the farm and moved to
town.
Last year Mr. True built an elegant and modern
residence on the beautiful tact of several acres set to trees, fruit and
shrubbery. This place is very appropriately name Eastlake, and command a grand
view of the lake and mountains.
Mr. and Mrs. True have two sons both of whom are farming,
while Mr. True devotes his spare time to painting and decorating, and is an
artist in his line.
M. S. Adams & Co.
Highlandlake people are fortunate in having good commercial
facilities. The above firm deserve much credit for the enterprise shown when
they put in a first class general store about one year ago. They carry a
complete line of goods most suitable for the demands of the trade and also
handle farm produce in exchange. The stock is modern, clean and new, and both
Mr. and Mrs. Adams are kept busy a large share of the time.
Mr. Adams has fifteen years experience in
merchandising, all of which helps him to select choice goods at the lowest
prices.
Before coming coming here they had made many friends in
this locality while living in the Longmont five years where Mr. Adams was
engaged in a lumber yard. They have a thrifty business and are well satisfied
with Highlandlake.
F. P. Waite
Among the first settlers who led the van of civilization in
the western world, braved the hardships of a pioneer life, broke the sod and
paved the way for an empire of modern homes, schools and churches, none,
perhaps, are more deserving than Mr. Waite.
He first settled at Denver in 1869. He cruised the
state on horseback and located where Lyons now stands and started a sheep ranch,
being the first settler. He sold the ranch in 1873 and went east, but returned
the same year and located on his present homestead of 160 acres. In the spring
he and Mr. L. C. Mead turned the first furrows near Highland Lake (sic).
Tall shade trees adorn the well kept lawn that
surrounds his comfortable home, and the trees in his large apple orchard are
large and symmetrical. Here and there we find patches of berries of all
descriptions, also cherries and other varieties of choice fruits. As a
horticulturist, Mr. Waite is a success and has solved the fruit question.
Back of all this wealth of trees expand fine fields of
wheat, alfalfa, potatoes and corn, all of which is handled by renters, Mr. Waite
having retired from the cares of the farm, excepting cattle, of which he has a
goodly number of choice strains both here and in the hills.
Mr. and Mrs. Waite are both public spirited and take an
interest in the future of Highlandlake. Mrs. Waite is a member of the Board of
Education and President of the 5th District of the W.C.T.U.
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