The following are extracts from the 1896 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.

Longmont Ledger - 1896

March 27

Rev. Mr. Harris of Longmont will exchange pulpits with Rev. Miss Bumstead of Highlandlake next Sunday.

Mr. Edward Markham of Highlandlake and Miss Fanny Gifford were married at Fort Collins last Thursday.

Mr. Frank Vonstein has left this community to seek his fortune in the mining districts.

Miss Belle Coates is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. Kerr.

April 10:

Born to Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Oviatt of Highlandlake, a son (April 9).

July 10:

Died, Albert Cyrus Oviatt, 42. Born Collamer, Ohio, suburb of Cleveland, August 14, 1853. Came to Highlandlake from California in autumn of 1877. Came to Longmont in spring of 1879, proprietor of meat market and leading businessman. Buried at Highlandlake next at wife's grave.

Paul Mead and family spending summer at L.C. Mead residence, closed since L.C. moved to Greeley. Will return to Colorado Springs at the opening of school year. He is in charge of the gym at Colorado College.

The new Congregational church at Highlandlake is now enclosed and painted, and the joiner work inside is progressing as rapidly as possible.

Sept. 10:

Born to Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Munson, a son.

Oct: 30:

The Kerr brothers thrashing machine has pulled in after a successful season's work.

Rev. Mary G. Bumstead was in Denver last week, attending the meetings of the Congregational Association.

The money has been nearly raised for the lighting and seating of the new church. When this has been accomplished, the church will be ready for occupancy.

Nov. 6:

Belle Coates was surprised by a jolly party of young people Wednesday evening.

Mr. Kerr has leased a piece of ground just east of the flume that is used to filling the lake. He proposes to run his feed mill there.

Nov. 20:

Rev. Mary G. Bumstead preached at the Mt. Zion church last Tuesday evening. A number of our people were in attendance.

A little girl put in her appearance at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Woodley last Thursday. She has come to stay.

Mr. A.L. Barnhart has rented the Somers place, northwest of the lake, and moved there with his family last week.

George Davis of Longmont has been engaged in papering, calcimining and painting the parsonage.

Scott Kerr has moved his feed mill from the old stand opposite the post office to the piece of ground north of the lake which he lately leased of L.C. Mead.

Nov. 27:

Miss Bumstead gave a reception to the ladies of the church tuesday afternoon.

A number of men have been busy in the neighborhood, working out their road tax.

County Superintendent Howard has instituted a custom in the Weld County Schools that a day shall be set apart each month for school visiting. Last Friday was the day appropriated by our school. Written invitations were sent to all the parents, and the teachers were prepared to conduct a model school, with the whole community for an audience. The visitors present numbered five.

Mr. and Mrs. Holmes shared their turkey with Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Holmes of Greeley. Mr. and Mrs, Henry Holmes with their families and Miss Bumstead.

Died at his Highlandlake residence of a sudden illness, William Henry Oviatt, 56. Born in Cleveland, came to Colorado in 1876. Had been postmaster at Highlandlake ever since the office was established. Survived by wife; two sons, R.H. and Ewing, and two daughters, Mrs. Harry Cole and Mrs. Hart of Denver. Funeral at residence, interment at Highlandlake cemetery.

Dec. 18:

Harry Oviatt has been appointed postmaster, but the bondsman, until the position can be permanently filled.

The weather is now cold enough for pork to keep, and the fat hogs are beginning to squeal in consequence.

Emma Holmes is the first Highlandlake girl to ride a wheel. (A wheel is a bicycle). See an invitation writen by Emma Holmes to Carl True to go to a Leap Year party.

Dec. 25:

The officers of the church have made arrangements to secure the seats that used to belong to the church at Lafayette. Mr. Packard owns them, and has offered 20 seats as a gift. There are 40 in all. Mr. Rewes offered to make the trip to Lafayette to bring the chairs up. He went down Tuesday.

Our old neighbor, Mr. Evans, is superintending the construction of a reservoir near Windsor. Malcolm Mead is working there now.

 

This page was updated on November 15, 2009