Historical insights and discoveries for Lafayette, Colorado.
Homes and retail establishments east of pre-Lafayette were scarce. Until Lafayette businesses were established in 1889 and 1890, pioneer families such as the Barrowmans and Harmons followed a trail along Coal Creek to buy provisions in Louisville. Barrowmans owned or farmed most of the land east of Lafayette along Coal Creek. Their farm house was located about where today’s Lafayette Water Reclamation plant sits at County Line Road and Highway 7.
The second edition of Carolyn Conarroe’s 1978 book “Louisville Story” can be purchased at the Louisville Historical Museum, 1001 Main Street in Louisville, open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Louisville History Foundation receives 100% of the proceeds from every “Louisville Story” soft cover book sale .
Doug Conarroe’s books “80026: An illustrated History of Lafayette, Colo. — 1829-1929,” “Lost Lafayette, Colorado,” and “Ghosts and Legends of Lafayette and Louisville” can be purchased at Read Queen bookstore at 29 N Harrison Ave in Lafayette and via Arcadia Publishing.
In the last few months, Balfour Senior Living of Louisville, Colorado, demolished and hauled the historic Hecla Casino to the landfill.
Continue reading “History Lost: Louisville’s historic Hecla Casino razed by Balfour Senior Living”
The opening of the new grade school (Lafayette Elementary on Bermont Avenue) today, February 24, brings back memories of the opening of the new school or should I say old grade school on an October day in 1904.
Continue reading “Reprints: 1964 – Lafayette’s new school brings back old memories”
Lafayette, Colorado, was founded in 1888 by Mary E. Miller (1843-1921), who named the platted 37-acre town after her late husband. In a nutshell, the town is named after De Lafayette “Lafe” Miller (1840-1878), not the Marquis de Lafayette.