102 Years Ago
The April 13, 1922 issue of the Colorado Transcript described a challenge the City was facing concerning its reservoir on Lookout Mountain. The area was becoming increasingly popular with tourists and a natural target for development. The Wagenbach family had already built a store near the reservoir, and developers were planning to build a gas station, a curio shop, and a waffle house in the same area.
Water wasn’t chemically treated at that time. The only way Cities could hope to ensure safe water was to bring “pure” water from the mountains. The proposed development near the reservoir was a threat to our water.
The matter of protecting the water supply brought up the question of possible contamination of the Beaver brook water shed, as since the Mount Evans road was built, many people are getting into the country. The city clerk and the health officer were instructed to investigate conditions there as soon as possible, and take the steps necessary to present the pollution of the streams.
Colorado Transcript – April 13, 1922
The supreme court had already decreed that cities could protect their water supplies, so Golden planned to take legal steps to stop any additional development.
Other stories in that same issue of the newspaper showed that Golden had good cause for concern: development was booming on Lookout Mountain. Construction was underway on the brand new Mount Vernon Country Club, with "a large force of men and teams at work...." Several vacation homes were under construction, and many interested buyers were shopping the remaining parcels so they, too, could build in the upscale new area.
The Sisters of Charity were getting ready to build a large stone residence for use as a summer camp for orphans (now the Mother Cabrini shrine).
The supreme court had already decreed that cities could protect their water supplies, so Golden planned to take legal steps to stop any additional development near the reservoir.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
