References to automobiles began to appear in the Transcript in 1899. In the earliest articles, the cars were always in far-away places–first Europe, then big cities in the eastern United States.
The coming vogue of the automobile car is indicated at every turn. In Belgium, where autocars are extremely popular, a company has been formed for the novel purpose of establishing on all the principal high roads of Europe electric-power stations or electric-posting stations for them At each station there is to be a bar and restaurant and a repair shop, which will be in charge of expert mechanics. Storage batteries can be recharged “while you wait,” and medical attendance will be on hand in case of accidents.
Colorado Transcript – March 15, 1899
Isn’t it interesting that in 1899 they thought these “posting stations” would be servicing electric cars?
124 Years Ago
Based on this brief article in the June 25, 1902 Colorado Transcript, Ed Rundlett may have been Golden’s first car-owner:
Some of our well-to-do citizens are flashing elegant rigs upon their more or less poverty-stricken contemporaries. Ed. Rundlett started the ball with a beautiful trap and now Dr. Perry Kelly has done him up completely. Joe Dennis has one or two fine turn-outs in the livery also, but when Jesse Rubey flashes his automobile on the admiring public those fellows will wish they had never been born.
For about the next twenty years, it was always news-worthy when someone bought an automobile, so we have a good record of who bought cars, what kind, and when.
By 1917, automobiles were becoming widespread enough that livery (rental of horses and carriages/wagons) was a dying industry. The March 8, 1917 Colorado Transcript announced that the horses, carriages, harness, etc. of Golden’s livery stable had been sold at auction. The article remarks that the sale “probably marks the end of the livery business in Golden.” For the next several decades, the building was used as a gas/service station.
