Harriman Lake, actually a reservoir, is situated west of Kipling Parkway and south of Quincy Avenue. It is fed by the piped Arnett-Harriman Ditch. It is named after George W. Harriman, who was called by historian Wilbur F. Stone" the father of the storage reservoir system." Harriman, the son of a shoemaker, came from Canada by way of Wisconsin. Once in Colorado, he began working in the hotel business in Central City and in Kenosha Park, on Park County. In 1870, he started his ranch in Bear Creek Valley where he began homesteading with 160 acres which he eventually increased to 850 acres. He took over the two-year-old Arnett Ditch, completed it and renamed it Harriman Ditch. He built the reservoir in 1873, which also bears his name. Harriman was County Commissioner in Jefferson County when the old courthouse was constructed in 1883. He moved to Fort Logan where he died in 1915.
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On the one hand, it kind of sucks that the 150th anniversary of the reservoir was not recognized. However, on the other hand, I am kind of glad I learned something about Colorado and one of my favorite spots.
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