In the Beginning…

In the Beginning, from Edgewater Colorado, A Centennial Celebration, 1901 – 2001, photos curtesy of the Denver Central Library, Western History Section

Thought to be Thomas Sloan's house built on the north shore of the Sloan's Lake

It all began one day in 1861 when Thomas Sloan decided to dig a well on his land in the ColoradoTerritory. Sloan cam to Arapahoe County (now Denver County) with aspirations of farming. The spot he chose was about two miles west of the growing settlement of Denver where he proceeded to dig a well for the irrigation of his farm and tapped into a warm water spring. Overnight his well filled and continued flowing until nearly 200 acres were flooded and the resulting lake became known as Sloan’s Lake, the name it bears today.

Ruth Wiberg recounts in Rediscovering Northwest Denver, “Word of the gushing well spread to the fledging town of Denver. People rode out on horseback to see the phenomenon of farmer Sloan’s well and talked as they watched the water spread.”

George F. Turner, an old stage driver for the C.O.C. & P.P.E., states in the Denver Post (October 20, 1908) that the lake’s formation occurred between June 1861 (when he left the area) and early 1863 (when he returned). F.J. Stanton a reputable engineer drove by the Sloan farm and viewed the formation of the lake. Further verification of the lake was by Mayor Sopris and Alderman Gove. They stated they had been out to the lake and saw the well was over flowing. It was thought that the wastewater form the old Arapahoe Ditch was the source of the water.

Along Sheridan looking north to Manhattan Beach on the south shore, approximately 1905

Since his farmland was now under water, Mr. Sloan had to find another source of income. He began to cut ice in the wintertime, which he packed in sawdust and stored in sheds. He shipped the ice to local breweries and prospered at this business for many years.

The area just west of Sloan’s Lake soon became known as “Edgewater” due to its close proximity to the lake. At the time, however, there was nothing in the Edgewater area but a few fishing shacks. According to the Western History Department of the Denver Public Library, the county line between Jefferson and Arapahoe Counties (later to become Denver County) became known as Sheridan Boulevard and was develop as a route to Fort Sheridan, which subsequently became known as Fort Logan.