The Rose Family of Mead

 

Rose Family of Mead, Colorado
15 March 2016
By Pauli Driver Smith

I was recently contacted by Erik Mason, archivist at the Longmont Museum, about a collection of WWI posters that were recently donated to them. One of them was stamped on the back, "Rose the Druggist, Mead, Colorado."

This got me thinking about the Rose family. I know that they owned the Rose Hall, but beyond that, little else. After doing a search of the Highlandlake columns in the Longmont Ledger, the only hits I received were in 1911, although based on the date of the above poster they were still there in 1916-1918.
I then did a search of census records which showed that as of 1910, Charles and his wife were living in Highlandlake. Andrew was living in Loveland with his parents and apparently commuting to Mead. By 1920, Charles and his wife were back in Loveland living on the same street as Andrew and his new wife. Their parents lived just around the corner. Both Charles and Andrew's occupations are listed as druggist.

As far as I can tell, Charles first arrived in the Mead area around 1907 or 1908. In February of 1911, he purchased a building from the Mintener Lumber Co., that was located on Main (4th) street catty corner and a bit south of the main lumber yard, and "fit it up for a hall." There was a good attendance at the first dance Saturday night at the opening of the Rose hall in Mead (Longmont Ledger, March, 17, 1911

About the same time (1908-1910), his brother Andrew H. Rose opened a drug store somewhere in Mead, probably on the old Main Street which is now WCR 7, In July of 1911, Charles purchased Andrew's drug store and continued to run it until about 1919 or thereabouts.

The rest of the notes in the 1911 Highlandlake Column that mentions these families, talk about day to day activities such as Charles purchasing a fancy new motorcycle, their wives going on shopping trips in Denver, trout fishing in the mountains, and of course, dances and programs at the Rose Hall. Apparently one, a Masque Ball on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 1911, was especially well attended as the Ledger found it important to note that the affair brought in $118.00.

Longmont Ledger, 5 June 1908, Highlandlake Column.
Mrs. Chas. Rose of Mead is visiting in Denver this week. Mrs. Clara Rose of Mead is visiting in Denver this week.

Longmont Ledger, 2 June 1911, Highlandlake Column.
Several from Highlandlake attended the dance in the Rose hall in Mead Saturday night and report a pleasant time. C. A. Rose of Mead has the pleasure of riding a nice new motorcycle.

Longmont Ledger, 24 Feb 1911, Highlandlake Column.
C. A. Rose of Mead has purchased the building from the Mintener Lumber Co., and expects to fit it up for a hall. It was used by them for a hardware store building. They have built another store room closer to the other business affairs.

Longmont Ledger, 28 July 1911 Highlandlake Column.
C. A. Rose of Mead was trout fishing in the mountains last week.

Longmont Ledger, 17 July 1911 Highlandlake Column.
Chas. Rose has bought out A. H. Rose in the drug store in Mead.

Longmont Ledger, 1 Dec 1911 Highlandlake Column.
C. A. Rose of Mead returned from Sterling Friday.

Longmont Ledger, 8 Dec 1911 Highlandlake Column.
There was a large crowd at the masque ball in the Rose hall in Mead Thanksgiving night ... and a pleasant time is reported. They, took in $118.00.

Longmont Ledger, 25 Aug 1911 Highlandlake Column.
Mrs. Chas. Rose returned from Eldorado Springs last week, after a very pleasant outing.

The 1911 Mead Business Directory, lists Charles Rose as the owner of the drug store and also the Town Clerk.