Longmont Ledger
May 7, 1897
The school election passed off very quietly last Monday. Mrs. Johnson was re-elected to fill the office of treasurer for another three years.
The little chaps had a runaway and smash up at the school house last week. Mr. Kistler's little boy was taking several of the other boys for a ride, and the horse ran away between the hitching poles and the school yard fence. The cart was a wreck, and Joe Ballinger sprained his ankle. None of the rest were hurt.
Mrs. Archer entertained twelve ladies with a carpet rag sewing, last week Thursday.
Mildred Munson has been quite sick, but is recovering now.
A number of our young ladies were out hanging May baskets last Friday evening.
The stockholders in the Highlandlake reservoir had a meeting last Friday. Mr. True was appointed watermaster.
While Harry Oviatt was absorbed in the services last sunday evening, his young "hopeful" rolled off his knee and bumped his head on the floor.
Miss Bumstead and Mr. Waite attended the Congregational Association in Denver this week.
Arthur Holt attended church at the Lake last Sunday morning.
Fred Weston has decided not to occupy L.C. Mead's house this summer, but will remain with his father, Mr. Chas. Weston.
Report on the Dedication of the church
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Holmes, Mrs. Gibbs, and M.O. Ferrell of Greeley, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Holmes, Sunday, April 25th.
Mr. and Mrs. F.P. Waite entertained Rev. W.W. Dumm over Dedication Sunday.
Mr. Charles N. Fitch was entertained over Sunday, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F.P. Woodley.
Mrs. Newby had for guests Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Entwhistle, Mr. and Mrs. Byrant Newby and family and Mrs. Teets of Longmont.
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Baker's guests for Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Jas. St. Clair, Mrs. Hayward, Mr. Donovan and Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Butler.
Deacon Mead and wife were entertained with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mead, and Rufus Mead was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gately.
Longmont Ledger
July 16, 1897
Mrs. Seth Terry of Longmont celebrated her seventy-fourth birthday at Highlandlake. She was the guest of her daughters, Mrs. Munson and Mrs. True.
A party of our young folks expect to escort Miss Bumstead on a trip to the mountains. Thursday of this week is the day planned for the start. Cora and Pearl Newby, Vesta and Metta Waite, Florence Baker, Carl True and Forbes Coates will be in the party.
Miss Bumstead's four weeks vacation begins next week. The church voted las sunday to supply the pulpit during her absence.
Miss Woodworth has a position in the Colorado Springs High School next year. Mr. Wesley Putman a former teacher at Highlandlake is to be principal there.
Miss Roswell will teach next year at Colorado City.
Mrs. Johnson has given up her eastern trip, but expects to have her niece, Ella Oviatt come and visit her as soon as she is able.
Prof. and Mrs. Clark are visiting at Mrs. Johnson's. They are from Chicago.
Rennie True writes that he is having a fine time at the Christian Endeavor Convention. He says that the Los Angeles Endeavor treated the delegates to fresh fruit and a tally ho stage coach ride about the city. They found San Francisco over crowded, but he and Will Markham were fortunate in finding a pleasant and convenient room.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitch and family of Denver expect to occupy the parsonage during a part of Miss Bumstead's vacation.
Harry Oviatt is recovering from a broken rib. Carl True punched him in a playful way, and hit harder than he intended.
Rufus Mead started Tuesday of this week on a bicycle trip to Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek. He expects to take in Highlandlake on his return.
The lake is getting low again, and the water is still going out.
Longmont Ledger
August 27, 1897
Mr. and Mrs. Waite are rusticating at Estes Park this week.
Mr. Reeves is still confined to his bed.
Mrs. Fred Weston, Bertha and Walter Weston, and Mrs. True went to Denver Wednesday , so as to take in the trip over the Loop Thursday. Mrs. Weston and Bertha will remain in Denver for a time, visiting at the home of Mr. Frank Davis. (Note: the "Loop" is probably referring to the Georgetown Loop railroad).
Mrs. Chas. Weston is suffering from asthma again; but it is hoped that after she has become accustomed to this climate she will be better soon.
There was general sorrow at Highlandlake at the news of the death of Mrs. Geo. Davis, of Longmont. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were residents of this place some years ago, and have many friends here who sincerely mourn Mrs. Davis' death and feel deep sympathy for Mr. Davis in his bereavement.
Dr. Ellie Oviatt and her friend, Dr. Holmes of Benton Harbor, Mich., arrived here last Friday, and will spend a couple of weeks, visiting Mrs. M.M. johnson.
There will be a Christian Endeavor rally held at the Highlandlake church next sunday afternoon. The societies of Longmont, Berthoud, and Mt. Zion are invited to attend. Reports of the National convention will be given.
Longmont Ledger
October 22, 1897
Mr. and Mrs. Waite visited their girls in Greeley last week
Mr. Illitt, of Ohio, has come to an extended visit with his cousin, Mrs. M.M. Johnson.
Miss Sadie Knowlton of Easton, is coming this week to stay with Mrs. Munson this winter.
Mr. Ritchie is putting up a building for a store. It is situated in the northeast corner of Dea. Mead's house lot. mr. Monteith of Longmont, is doing the work.
Mr. Reeve's many friends rejoice to see him able to be out again after his long and severe illness.
Miss Bumstead has organized a class for fancy work, which meets at her home every Thursday p.m.
Forbes Coates has rented the Joe B. Thompson farm and is going to "bach" in company with Ed Seaman, in the shanty between Mr. Thompson's and Mrs. Newby's places.
The following are extracts from the 1897 Longmont Ledger. They are just highlights taken from the columns by the late Pat Eckman in the early 1980s, and should not be considered complete transactions of the Highlandlake column.
Jan. 6:
Last Sunday, the first preaching services were held in the new church. In spite of the cold and wind, there was a large attendance with all the seats being filled. The new lights are not in yet, but it is expected they will be put in this week. Lamps were taken from the school house for Sunday evening. Forty chairs are in the church now, and it is expected that sixty more will be put in before next Sunday.
Most of Highlandlake "partook" of the coyote hunt last Saturday. A good many jack rabbit pies are the result.
Jan. 15:
The handsome new carpet in the church is the gift of the Highland Helpers.
George Richey (Ritchie) has made Highlandlake his headquarters. He sells groceries and notions.
There is an organ in the church on trial. It has been sent up by a Denver firm.
Jan. 22:
The four beautiful pictures on the walls of the church are the gift of Mrs. Johnson.
Feb. 12:
A "bee" was held at the church grounds Tuesday for the purpose of building a fence around the church lot. A substantial fence of posts eight feet apart with sixteen foot poles wired to them was put up on the sides and rear of the lot. It makes a good fence to hitch teams to.
March 5:
Carl and Rennie True have the contract to build a fence between the parsonage grounds and adjoining fields.
April 16:
Miss Wygal of Berthoud is now living with Miss Bumstead.
April 25, is the date set for dedicating the church.
April 30:
D. C. Donovan had the contract for building the Highlandlake church and that the job was a good one is plainly evident to all beholders.
May 15:
Died: of Bright's Disease, Miss Isabella Coates, 17, in Denver. Until January, she had lived with Miss Bumstead for a year.
June 4:
Mr. Ridgway from Boulder University will take charge of the upper grades, and Miss Mansfield (Grace Mansfield Coates, second wife of Forbes Coates), of Arkansas City, Kansas, will have the primary department. Miss Mansfield is a niece of Mrs. Woodley.
June 11:
The church has been fitted with new window screens and screen doors.
Twenty dollars more has been received for the church bell fund, bringing the amount to about $80.
June 25:
Miss Bumstead has a horse to drive now. It is a gift from two of her parishiners, Mrs. Frantz and Mr. Slickton.
June 30:
A new bell has been ordered for the church and will probably be here by the time Miss Bumstead's vacation is over. It is to be of the best bell metal and is manufactured by the Cincinnati Bell Foundry. It will cost about $120.
July 2:
The Fourth of July celebration will take place Saturday. There will be a fine display of fireworks after dark in the lake. Mr. Gateley says he will run Mr. Woodley' a fat man's race on the Fourth.
July 9:
The Fourth of July celebration was a success. Although it did not come up to expectations in every respect, almost everyone had a good time and it seems to be demonstrated that Highlandlakers need not always go away from home to have a good time.
July 30:
See transcription of whole column in above section.
August 13:
The new bell has come and now occupies its place in the church tower. It is a bell of the first quality, weighing over 600 pounds and measuring 31 inches across at the base.
Mr. Ritchie has added soda to his line of goods, and it seems to be quite a popular addition.
Miss Bumstead left last week for Greeley. She expects to be there and in Denver during the remainder of her vacation.
The sign, "Apples for Sale" in front of the parsonage is backed up by some fine looking fruit.
The was a CE social Thursday evening at Mr. Waite's. The object was to raise money for the new bell and organ.
Aug. 20:
Charles Kerr has sold out his interest in the thrashing machine to Will Knapp. Charles expects to run the engine this fall the same as usual.
Ed Markham has recently purchased a new separator.
The new church organ arrived Tuesday.
Aug. 27:
Died - Mary Holden Davis, wife of George Davis, 76. born in Reading, Mass.; married Geo. Davis January 16, 1845. Lived in Reading until about 1855, when they moved to Denmark, Iowa. Came to Colorado in 1863, first to Central City and to Longmont in 1871. Internment at Highlandlake. (This was an obit and not in the regular Highlandlake column, although -see above- her death was duly noted in the Highlandlake column).
Oct. 22:
See transcription of the entire column for this date in the section above.
Nov. 19:
The men "under the lake" are at work there this week repairing the dike.
Nov. 26:
Died: of paralysis, George Davis, 80. born New Ipswich, Mass., October 16, 1817. Survived by three children: Charles of Loveland, George M. of Longmont, and Mrs. Maxwell of Boulder. Came to Longmont in 1863 (sic).
This page was updated on November 14, 2009