The Greeley tribune., 1903-09-24
A NEW TOWN
HOW JoHNsTowN sPRANG UP
IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
Rich Valley of the Thompson
Rivers Offers Many Advan-
tages to Farmers.

Separated from the Pondre valley
by high ridge that runs from the
foothills to the Platte river just
north Of Evans is the valley of the
Big and Little Thompson rivers. 1t
is a part of country seldom counted
In when one speaks generally Of
northern Colorado, and yet here is
country fully equal to the Poudre
valley in productiveness, If not quite
so large in extent, and almost that
too when that part Of the valley lying
In Larimer county Is considered.
| Loveland and Berthoud are both To-
Gated in this valley, the former lying
right on the Big Thompson and the
latter place six miles farther south,
nearer the south fork or Little
Thompson. Loveland had the dis
tinction of securing the first sugar
factory in northern Colorado, and the
Thompson valley has perhaps the best
beet soil of any section in this part
of the state. All this is in Larimer
county.
Running out from the Loveland
sugar factory in an easterly direction
is spur OF railroad built for the
convenience of the farmer and the
profit of the sugar factory, bv the
former being placed within mile or
two Of beet dumps, thus encouraging
him in the growth of beets. This
road reaches far into Weld county,
describing large bow and returning
toward Berthoud, but ending some
six miles before it reaches this place.
| Every two or three miles on this road
are beet dumps. and it is estimated
| that this fall so, 900 tons of beets will
be hauled to Loveland over 1t.
Out southeast some thirteen miles
from Loveland, II. j. Parish, former
county commissioner, has farm upon
which he lives with his family, a no
small part OF which is his little son,
John. Mr.. Parish is MEMBER OF the
firm of FairbaiIn s. Parish, lumber
and hardware dealers in Berthoud.
About August i, 1902, this firm de-
cided to put up a small branch yard
and store on MIR. Parish's property
on the new railroad spur. The
building was completed inside of
month and opened for business. In
honor of his little son, MI. Parish
called the place JohnstOwn. and now
| for the past two months the business
of the firm of Fairbairn & Parish
there has amounted to $4,000
month. and it is still on the in
crease.
Shortly after the Parishs' firm had
commenced business, A. X. Morrison
came from Berthoud with hammer.
tongs and forge and soon the second
| place of business, the always neces-
sary blacksmith shop, was drawing
patronage from the farmers. Then
j. l.. Neibergall put up a building
and put in large stock of general
merchandise, and commenced ii $1,000
month business. Next the Davis
Hartford Mercantile company OF Ber-
thoud saw the opportunities offered
by the new town and they also put
up a good sized building, putting in
the same class Of goods handled by
the firm in the home store. These
include dry goods, groceries, shoes,
etc. A large building for imple-
ments was erected. r. F. Bruner
was put in charge Of the business,
and now this firm is also doing
e., ,OOOa month business. Becker &
Neibergall, implement dealers, was
the next firm to establish itself
there, with large line of buggies
and Implements. Then came Hotel
Tucker, in large and comfortable
two-story frame building, where
daily they now feed from so to 60
persons. A barber shop and harness
shop have recently been added. A
competent doctor is also located in
the town. There is also public
hall, 3Ox75 feet, including banquet
room.
1he town has graded school with
two teachers and many OF the farm
ers are sending their children to the
"city" school on account OF the
higher grades taught there, although |
they must pay 81. 30 a month for each |
pupil. Church meetings are held in
the hall Jobnstown is also the hub /
of the Greeley. Eaton and Windsor,
and the Fort Collins IOyeland and |
Berthoud circuits Of the Colorado !