Originally called Cherokee City, Latham was a fork in the road - a transfer point - a major junction on the Overland Trail in the 1860's. It was a stagestop for those heading to Denver from points East, a resupply point for weary travelers heading West on to Utah, Oregon and California. It was a place to repair your covered wagon; to fill your belly, to get reports of weather and Indian activity further on. Later, it would become Fort Latham, an Army outpost for defending travelers from those savage Redskins.

Those heading south to Denver would follow the South Platte along the east bank. Those heading west would cross the river here, said to be an inch deep and a mile wide at that time. The Union Pacific would run westward well north of here. The Denver Pacific line, connecting Denver to the rest of the country by rail, would also skip past Latham, leaving it to die without purpose for its existence.

But while it did exist, it was an oasis on the high plains of Colorado Territory in the 1860's; a welcomed sight for weary travelers; a place to slow down, grab a drink, brush off the dust from a long, bumpy ride. Latham is a log building in the middle of nowhere, at the confluence of the South Platte and Poudre Rivers. It's a place to stock up on candles, soap, and other supplies for the trip ahead; a small paragraph in the history book of the west.

For those who remember, for those who've studied, for those who've daydreamed about it, Latham will always exist; always be welcoming the pioneer, the stage traveler, the prospector, the brazen and hopeful. It's there, too, for the marshall, the outlaw, the scam artist and the gambler. Even today, with one eye in the history book, one can stand on the high plains, with the majestic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, the wind in their face, the dust in their eyes, and see blankets flapping in the breeze as they hang on the horse hitching posts outside, a welcome sight after 136 miles on the trail from any real civilization.

Today, Latham is a stone marker on a farm east of Greeley; a small tribute to a small, but important landmark  in westward expansion. Tomorrow, Latham will be remembered through electronic transmissions as the Trading Post that always gave a square deal, a restful stop, a good quality blanket, and a reminder of the old ways in the Twenty-First Century.

Through your support, we have opened a retail store named Latham Trading Post further along the Overland Trail. There, and here online, you will find quality Southwestern and Western-style merchandise, many items being handmade or handwoven, at reasonable pricing and with good service. Thanks for stopping in. We appreciate your business!