Before Mead became a town, it used to be called Highlandlake. Mary Mead Jensen has been the president of Historic Highlandlake Inc. since June 10, 1960. She witnessed firsthand the organization’s growth from a four-member board to the current 10 board members. She’s also seen the treasury grow from a $50 budget to almost $90,000.

Historic Highlandlake’s mission is to preserve the church and cemetery. The congregation formed in 1881 and met in the Highlandlake School until the church was built in 1896. Due to Jensen and other members’ efforts, the group was able to raise private funds and grant money for the church’s recent restoration, including a new roof.

“Thanks to Mary, we have all of the church records,” board member Pauli Smith said. “Mead’s early records were destroyed. Nobody except us has all that stuff in one place. She also keeps track of the deceased in the community.”

Jensen’s grandfather founded the former town, Highlandlake, and her father’s uncle donated land for Mead. She grew up in Mead and helped her dad take care of the lake and the cemetery.

“Mary still oversees and runs the family’s Highland Lake concessions, boat rentals and flips a mean hamburger,” Smith said. “She is the friend to many and stranger to none.”

For information about volunteering with Historic Highlandlake or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.