Newspaper Stories
Return to the Mead History Page. . .
Mead had three different newspapers over the years, and a couple of recent newsletters that lasted only a few months. In addition, the Longmont papers, the Johnstown Breeze in Johnstown, the Platteville newspaper and the Berthoud newspapers all carried news about Mead. The Longmont Ledger carried a Highlandlake/Mead column for years in the early part of this century. The Johnstown Breeze published the Mead Messenger for several years as the owner of the paper in Mead, did not have a press.
The Mead Messenger
Vol. 11, May 1926 - "In the eleventh hour rush, just as we were going to press last week, The Messenger unintentionally failed to make mention of the pleasing manner in which Undertaker F. R. Shaw of Longmont conducted the funeral service of the late Mrs. Martha Bishop. Shaw is a pioneer undertaker, and he enjoys the distinction of conducting funerals to the entire satisfaction of all concerned."
Vol. 11, May 1926 - " For the past week rain has been an almost daily occurrence. The farmers and others as well are now hoping for a few days of much needed sunshine. The time a year ago the cry was, 'We need a rain - and that pretty bad and quick'."
Vol. 11, May 1926 - "The dance given at the Mead Hall last Saturday night by the Messrs. Anderson and Olson was well attended, but due to the almost impassable condition of the road half way between Mead and Longmont, it is said that several would-be-dancers were unable to make the grade, and failed to arrive that night."
The Johnstown Breeze
In the Johnstown Breeze paper dated, Thursday, Nov 5, 1908, it states that, "The Mead Messenger was sold last week to I. A. Lee of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who took immediate charge."
The Thursday, Oct. 1, 1908 issue reports, "Editor Holmes of the Mead Messenger wants an annual dog-killing day instituted in his town."
Thursday, Oct 8, 1908 announces, "The towns of Mead and Nunn have filed petitions with the county clerk asking that they be allowed to vote on the question of making their precincts anti-saloon territory at the next election."
The Thursday, Nov 26, 1908 issue declares, "The town of Mead has granted the Colorado Telephone company a franchise."
Longmont Daily Times-Call
Mead Observing Centennial This Year
Community Started at Highland Lake
The Daily Times-Call
March 27-28, 1971
The history of the town of Mead truly begins with the founding of its one-time
sister community, Highland Lake.
L.C. Mead, known as Deacon Mead, came to Longmont late in 1871 from Chicago
after the disastrous fire in Chicago all but wiped him out.
He surveyed the county and selected a farm site about seven miles
northeast of Longmont which he homesteaded. Mead
commuted from Longmont every day while he was building his house.
Reservoir
Mead aided the Highland Ditch Co. in surveying their ditches and used 60 acres
of his homestead to build a reservoir known as Highland Lake. From this lake
over 500 acres are irrigated and the Highland ditch system is one of the largest
in the area.
By 1874, a community was settled on the banks of the lake and, although the
community never grew to any degree, it was a favorite resort area for Longmont
residents. In the next 20 years Highland Lake ha a post office, church, school,
meat market, general store, hotel and blacksmith shop.
Railroad
In 1906 the Great Western Company built a railroad to within two miles of
Highland Lake to ship sugar beets to their factory in Longmont. A terminal was
built on the corner of property belonging to Paul Mead, a nephew of Deacon Mead.
It was a natural site for a town and buildings were soon erected on the
Mead property and the adjoining property to the east owned by Louis Roman. A
stipulation on the Mead property stated that no saloons or sale of liquor were
allowed on the property so bars were built on the Roman property.
First Building
The first building built in Mead was constructed by a man named Adams on the
corner of Third Street and Welker Avenue. It was first used as a
store but in later years was converted to a bar and is still used for
that purpose. The town of Mead was platted Feb. 19,
1906 and was incorporated on March 17, 1908. The first town board meeting was
April 13, 1908 at which time M.S. Adams was elected mayor and C.V. Holmes, Dr.
W. E.. Dillingham, I.O.O.F Hayes, C. B. Goodwin,
John Dalgetty and C.A. Smith were elected
trustees. J.E. Kitts was elected clerk pro-tem.
School
Shortly after the town was organized a school was built. Within a few years the
Highland Lake school and the Mead school had a working
arrangement in which the grade school students attended class at Highland Lake
and the high school students attended the Mead school. George Kistler of
Longmont was one of the first bus drivers. In 1918 the
two schools consolidated.
During the succeeding years as roads and transportation improved more country
schools were consolidated into the Mead district and several of the small school
buildings were moved to Mead. Pearl Howlett and Victor schools are still being
used by the Mead school. During the depression a gymnasium was built by WPA
labor.
Bustling
For nearly 30 years the town of Mead was a bustling community. At its peak, Mead
had three general stores a hotel, a combination grocery store and meat market,
two saloons, a butcher shop, filling station, two auto
garages, an implement company, two livery stables, a lumber yard, blacksmith
shop, a drug store with the post office situated in the back, a shoe and harness
repair shop and two doctor's offices.
The telephone office was first in the dry goods store and was later moved to
Mrs. Mamie Howlett's home. Mrs. Howlett was for many years the operator. Mead
had the first dial telephone system in the state.
Mead also had its own newspaper, the Mead Messenger, and its offices were in the
building which now houses the liquor store. The name was later changed to the
Mead Gazette.
Bank
A bank was established and was known as the Mead State Bank, later the First
National Bank of Mead.
Industries built on the outskirts of Mead included a pickle factory a hay mill
and a pea hulling factory.
Two factors, the depression and improved transportation, led to the general
demise of Mead. Many of the businesses closed their doors and people moved form
the area. Mead's present population is about 200
people and about 10 businesses. The residents of Mead
have not considered the future of their town to be anything but optimistic. In
1969 a water filter plant was installed improving Mead's water supply. The city
has its own sewer system and is supplied by a natural gas line.
Submitted on 14 July, 2003 by Marvin Hubenthal . Used on this website with permission from the Longmont Daily Times-Call