31 Years Ago
A quick scan of the March 3, 1994 Golden Transcript highlights several changes in the intervening years.
The Jefferson County courthouse, Hall of Justice, and Treasurer/Assessors buildings were under contract to be sold for $3.5 million. The buyers owned several other properties in Golden, including the Armory, and planned to turn the Hall of Justice into apartments or senior housing.
The School of Mines had been interested in the property and buildings, but they had wanted to do a land swap; whereas, the County wanted a cash purchase. The deal described in the March 3rd issue fell apart by June of that year, and Mines did eventually acquire the land. They used the buildings as office space for a few years before razing them. The land served as parking lot for several years and has recently been built over.
In other news, a citizen activist group was protesting a plan to open a quarry on South Table Mountain. They were encouraging Jefferson County Open Space to purchase the land. Open Space purchased most of the Mountain between 2004 and 2009.
The City was applying for a grant from the State Historical Fund to reopen the Magic Mountain archaeological site (near Heritage Square). That site had been studied in 1959-1969. The City got the grant and conducted digs in 1994 and 1996. The site was opened again in 2017 and 2018.
The Astor House Hotel Museum was displaying a quilt that had been owned by Seth Lake. Lake was the builder and original owner of the Astor House.
We invite anyone interested in seeing this beautiful and historic quilt to visit the museum.
The City later took over management of the Astor House Museum and eventually sold the contents and shuttered the building. The Astor House stood empty for a few years before being leased to Foothills Art Center.
The Letters to the Editor included a note from State Representative Tony Grampsas. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Golden named a park for him after Rep. Grampsas's death.
Holiday Inn was offering an early bird special prime rib dinner for $8.25. Patrons who brought in the Transcript ad would also receive a complimentary slice of pecan pie. The hotel closed in the early 2000's and the spot is now occupied by a Nissan dealership.
Here's one thing that hasn't changed: Joy Brandt was selling homes in Golden in 1994, and she's still doing it today (only now she's in color)!
