Newspaper Stories

Newspaper Stories

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

 

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