78 Years Ago
In the years after World War II, Golden’s population exploded and houses were being built all over town. The July 22, 1948 Transcript announced that the City’s new gravel crusher would soon be in operation. Golden had long been platted as far south as 24th Street, but most of those streets were theoretical, with few or no houses along them. With new subdivisions popping up all over town, the City had a sudden need for large volumes of gravel to build new streets. On July 22nd, Vernon Drive (a one-block street between 21st and 23rd Streets) was waiting for its load of gravel.
The Welch ditch goes through that neighborhood, and the new roads required bridges to cross the ditch. 21st and 23rd Streets had automobile bridges. 22nd Street dead-ended, with Vernon Drive on the other side of the ditch. City workers built a pedestrian bridge at that spot.
The City and the Martin Construction Company were also installing a 5-foot culvert at 21st and Ford Streets that week. Three new houses were being built near that intersection.
