5 New Cases, Murals, the Moon, and More Meyer Hardware

*Golden Eye Candy – Fall coming to Clear Creek (2010) – click to enlarge*

Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden

JCPHD updates these numbers Monday through Friday at about 3 PM. Here’s the most recent Coronavirus report from Jeffco Public Health’s Case Summary Page:

School of Mines COVID-19 case page. | Masks are required. | City and County fire restrictions are in place. | Clear Creek is now open.

Virtual Golden

*Checkmate on the 19th Street lid over 6th Ave. – Photo by DPowers (10/2/2017) – click to enlarge*

9AM Public Art Commission Meeting
The PAC will consider ways to incorporate public art into the proposed Creek remodel. They will review the murals they plan to put on Bob’s Atomic Burgers (map), 1101 Washington (map), the Colorado +49 Cidery (map), and the Golden Hotel (map). They will discuss the Public Art Master Plan and lighting the Checkmate statue.
10:15-11:15AM Preschool Time with the Library
6PM Virtual: Qs and Brews Trivia – pub trivia with the library

Real World Golden

*Moonrise over Castle Rock by Tom Schweich – click to enlarge*

The moon will be full tonight. It will rise at 7:03PM and set at 7:31 tomorrow morning. Since it’s full so early in the month, we’ll have a blue moon in October–on Halloween! Source

New Terrain Brewing is celebrating their 4th anniversary this weekend.

Polar Express Tickets go on sale to the general public today.

Live Music:
5PM Dave Frisk at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
5PM Josh Blackburn at Wrigley’s

Future Golden

The 10th Annual Children’s Clothing Swap will take place outdoors this Saturday. They’ll be accepting clothing drop-offs today and tomorrow. Learn more….

As I mentioned last week, the Library will hold their Whale of a Used Book Sale October 14-18. In order to stay COVID-safe, they’re accepting RESERVATIONS for time slots. To make sure you get a slot you want, reserve it now: www.whalesale.org.

Golden History Moment

*Joe and Ruby Meyer in the Washington Avenue Store in 1952 – click to enlarge*

Yesterday, I wrote about the 70+-year old Sarell Hardware business, left to crumble after the deaths of its owners, and its revival when Joe and Ruby Meyer came to town and rescued it.

*Meyer Hardware in Washington Avenue in 1968 – click to enlarge*

Joe and Ruby opened Meyer Hardware in 1945. The business thrived under their management and they gradually expanded from occupying one store building on Washington Avenue (1112) to filling three adjacent ones (1110, 1112, and 1114). In 1954, the Meyer’s only child–Marilyn–married Herold Schaefer. Harold soon joined the family business and eventually became the General Manager.

*1973 Grand Opening of the Meyer Home Center – click to enlarge*

The business continued to thrive, and by the early 1970s they were ready for a new, modern, custom-built store. At that time, they had garages and storage buildings across the alley from the store, and they decided to demolish those and build anew. The Meyer Home Center opened in 1973. Originally, the lower level was the appliance department.

They held onto the Washington Avenue buildings for a number of years. In fact, Golden Moon Speakeasy used to be their lumber center, and the rest of that building served as the plumbing department. They served the construction trades in that building, and could cut threads in pipes and saw lumber to custom lengths.

Many of the extended Meyer clan have worked in the store through the years. After World War II, Joe’s brother Roy came to work for the business, staying until his retirement in the mid-1980s. Roy’s sons, Ron and Russ Meyer, worked in the store during high school.

*Herold and Marilyn Schaefer, Ruby and Joe Meyer in 1987*

Marilyn and Harold Schaefer had four kids–Steve, Jim, Kathy, and Pat–and they all worked in the store. Jim still works there, and Steve and his wife Karla now own the store. Steve and Karla’s kids also worked at Meyer’s during high school and college.

Joe and Ruby Meyer were Grand Marshals in the Buffalo Bill Days Parade in 2000. Ruby passed away in 2002 and Joe died in 2007. Marilyn and Herold retired in 1996. Herold died a year ago, in September, 2019. All four of the elder statesmen (Joe and Ruby, Marilyn and Herold) remained involved in the store after retirement.

There’s a young salesman on the Avenue who already is on his way to becoming a successful businessman like his Grandfather Joe Meyer and his Dad Harold Schaefer–his is Steven Schaefer…he can find the product for you and give a most effective sales talk…
Colorado Transcript, July 14, 1966

Steve Schaefer went far away to college–Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. He majored in business administration and gave due consideration as to whether he wanted to work in the family business. In the end, he and Karla decided that Golden and Meyer Hardware were the right choice for their future. Steve has been with the business since he graduated in 1977.

Meyer’s inventory has changed over the years as consumer demands shift. They no longer sell lumber, appliances, or firearms, but their housewares department has grown considerably. They used to sell ranch supplies, but the area is more urban than it used to be and no longer needs saddles and stock tanks. They have survived (and outlasted) many competitors over the years by providing better service, better parking, and a better inventory.

This year they are celebrating their 75th anniversary!