Back to the History of Highlandlake
By 1905, Highlandlake had several businesses to be proud of. The oldest store in the community was Richey's Grocery store founded in 1897. M. S. Adams Company opened in 1902 on the north shore of the lake. There were two blacksmith shops by 1906, one near the Jepperson home near the south east corner of Highlandlake, the other across the street from the M. S. Adams Company and next door to the Fraternity Hall on the north side of the road. The Barber shop/Confectionery stood next to the east side of the Fraternity Hall with the Hardware store next to it. Around the corner on the east side stood Richey's, the Meat Market, and the lake concession.
The location of the Bank may have been on the lake side of Main near the Meat market, or across the street. It's exact location has been lost in history. The Livery stable was locatedacross from the True home near the corner of Longs Peak (now Weld County Road 36) and Main (now Weld County Road 5). The Post Office by 1906 was located in the Richey Grocery Store.
The community's one hotel was located on Longs Peak Ave half way between Main St. and what is now known as Weld County Road 7, one mile east of Main St., (CR 5). Another hotel was being proposed by L.C. Mead to be located on the east shore of the lake, but apparently never was built.
The original Feed Mill and Scales Company was located on the corner of Main Street and what is now known as CR 34 3/4. It was placed strategically by the irrigation outlet gate ditch to take advantage of the running water available when the farmers needed water for irrigation. Founded by George Davis in about 1880, it was sold to the Scott Kerr Family in 1887. In November of 1896, Scott Kerr moved the mill to the north side of the lake, locating it on land he leased from L. C. Mead along the inlet ditch. This gave him a steadier supply of water. A large water wheel turned the mill stones to grind the grain into feed or flour. The original stones are now located in the Platteville, Weld County, Co., Museum. Around 1915, the mill closed and the building was converted into a large barn. The barn was then torn down in the early 1980s by the Faulkner family as it was falling down.
Around 1900, a Fraternity hall was built near the intersection of what is now Weld County roads 5 and 36. It isn't clear what fraternity the buildign was afliliated with. We do know that dances were held weekly throughout most of the year, and people traveled all the way from Longmont and later Mead to attend them.
When the railroad bypassed the town in 1906, most of the public buildings were physically moved to the new town of Mead, 2 miles southeast. The M.S. Adams store was moved almost as soon as the new town was laid out. They built a new wood-framed store on the northeast corner of Welker and 3rd Street (now Weld County Road 7), which at the time was called Main Street. M.S. (Marion) Adams became the first mayor of Mead in 1908. In 1912 or 1913, the Adam's, along with several other businesses, built a large, brick store, a block west, on the new Main Street. The post office was housed within this story for many years. In 1914, the Adams retired, sold the business and moved to Longmont to finish out their retirement years.
The old Richey's Grocery was eventually moved to Mead where it re-opened as the Red & White Grocery. There are still more than a few people around who remember that store. The building still stands and later became the Mead Post Office. After the new post office was built on Welker street, Town & Country Real Estate moved into the building.
The Bank was closed and torn down, but not before someone tried to rob it. The would-be robbers, dragged the safe out of the bank one dark night, and blew it open along the inlet ditch. Local legend has it that the thieves found the safe empty, as the money had already been transferred to another bank in Mead. Rumors have flown ever since the event about who the purported villains were, but no one was ever caught or charged with the crime. The safe itself lay rusting for decades in the inlet ditch toHighlandlake, its remains finally cleaned up in the late 1980s.
Only one original business still remains, that of the Mead/Jensen family lake concession and cafe. Mary Mead Jensen, granddaughter of L. C. Mead still runs it, although for the past few years, her children and grandchildren have taken over more and more of the responsiblities. Here you can rent a boat for the day, fish the frequently stocked lake, get a grilled hamburger, pop or other snacks and fishing necessities and spend a pleasant county day in a community that still heralds back to the turn of the century. What a deal!
This page was updated on October 22, 2009