Lafayette History

Conceived in 1913 as a direct motor route between the West Coast and the East Coast, the Lincoln Highway became the first cross-country roadway. At conception, the road traversed California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. A designation of an alternate route, or loop, from Cheyenne to Denver, then back up to Julesburg was also included in the initial route.

Lafayette was on the route of the Cheyenne to Denver leg, but in 1915 the Lincoln Highway Association formally withdrew sanction for the “Denver Loop.” Colorado’s Gov. Ammons protested the delisting, but the association prevailed.

Continue reading “For two brief years, the (official) Lincoln Highway came through Lafayette”

Lafayette’s dirt streets circa 1910 didn’t see a lot of traffic. Although trains ran daily between Lafayette and Denver, local travel was primarily via horse and buggy, and only a handful of households could afford a Ford Model T. Residents getting around on bicycles had an ally in the Arc Light Bicycle Shop in 400 block of East Simpson, and horse hitching posts fronted almost every commercial establishment.

Continue reading “Lafayette’s underground avenues”

Lafayette’s first decade after its 1889 incorporation was fairly uneventful, at least according to town board meeting minutes. The board concentrated on acquiring a reliable water supply for the town, first sinking an artesian well in the northeast corner of town, then securing water rights from the Davidson Ditch Company, founded in 1872. Two reservoirs were built to retain the ditch water and were located at the intersection of today’s Baseline Road and U.S. 287. One lake acted as a settling lake and (cleaner) water was directed into that second lake. Water from that lake flowed through a primitive filter connected to wood pipes and was used primarily for irrigation and to charge Old Town fire hydrants rather than for drinking.

The Jan. 25, 1900, fire that destroyed 13 commercial buildings and two homes along two sides of the 400 block of E. Simpson Street didn’t garner much mention in Lafayette Town Board minutes. Town board members were more concerned about a repayment demand from the Louisville Hook & Ladder Company, who helped battle the Simpson Street fire. The Louisville crew wanted $100 for a hose burned in the fire, but eventually accepted a $60 settlement.

Continue reading “1900 fire destroyed 15 structures in downtown Lafayette”