31 Years Ago
The February 7, 1995 Golden Transcript celebrated the success of the memorial bricks program. The Golden Urban Renewal Authority was working to revitalize downtown at that time.
Four years earlier, in 1991, the hefty tax increment financing revenue had not yet kicked in, so they were looking for other sources of revenue. They decided to start selling engraved bricks to be embedded in downtown sidewalks. By 1995, the program was a decided success. It had already funded the clock on the southwest corner of 12th and Washington. It was currently helping to pay for a public restroom next to the Astor House.
Many residents and businesses contributed time and materials to the restroom project, including Andrews and Anderson Architects, Coors Brewing, and Meyer Hardware. The Golden Lions Club contributed 3,000 hours to do the masonry work.
Golden's movers and shakers were so pleased with the new structure that they dubbed it "The Taj Ma Stall." They held a grand opening celebration on March 17th, 1995. Members of the Urban Renewal Authority served as a drill team, wielding their plungers with precision. Public Works Director Dan Hartman cut the toilet paper ribbon. Two winners of a radio contest (one man, one woman) won 4-packs of toilet paper, the right to do the first flush in their designated bathrooms, and trips to Flushing New York.
The Golden Urban Renewal Authority has moved on to projects in other parts of town, so the brick program is now run by the Downtown Development Authority. You, too, can have an engraved downtown brick for a $100 fee.
