Virtual Events
8:30-9:30AM Virtual Power Training
3-5PM Hard Times Writing Workshop
Real World Events
9AM Golden Walks – Wednesday Morning Celebrating Life @ Golden Library
10-11:30AM Gathering of Friends @ Golden History Museum
Friends of Golden History Museum & Park is a community of museum supporters who enjoy learning about the history of Golden and advancing the educational mission of the Museum.
You are invited to join the Friends for this inaugural event. Enjoy free coffee, tea, and refreshments while mingling with fellow Golden history lovers. Registration is recommended but not required. Free.
10AM Wild West Walking Tour
4PM and 6PM Wild West Short Tour
6PM Pong Night @ Coda Brewing
6PM Community Sustainability Advisory Board @ City Hall
The Sustainability Board will review the “Roadmap to Net Zero” report. The will discuss policy alternatives regarding next steps toward expanding access to recycling and/or organics waste collection for multifamily and commercial areas. They will consider “potential new policies and programs pertaining to energy and renewables, including a policy for a net zero standard for new construction for municipal buildings, a bulk purchasing program for residential solar….” Staff will provide updates on water conservation and the drought plan, resource planning, and a grant request for the solar home tour.
6PM Welcome Back Bash @ The Spot Golden
6:30PM Galactic Mountain Paint & Sip @ Over Mountain Brewing
7PM Trivia Night @ Trailhead Taphouse
Live Music
6:30-8:30PM Alma Russ & Bryson Evans @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
6:30PM Open Jam/Mic at Over Yonder Brewing
Golden History Moment
49 Years Ago
The August 24, 1973 Golden Transcript announced that the City had no bidders at a planned auction of the Loveland Fire Station. You may wonder: why were we auctioning off a fire station?
Golden used to have three fire companies: Excelsior Fire and Hose Company (established in 1868), W. A. H. Loveland Hose and Fire Company (1875), and Everett Hook and Ladder Company (also 1875). While there was friendly competition between the companies, they functioned together as the Golden Fire Department.
Golden built a Central Fire Station in 1883–located on 12th Street, between the Astor House and the Loveland Building (Old Capitol Grill). The Excelsior and Everett companies met and kept their equipment there.
The Loveland Hose Company was based at 9th and East Street, near the railroad facilities. Their first station was built in 1880. In 1926, the firefighters moved the old building to the back part of their lot and began construction of a new one, made of stone. The firefighters hauled the stone and sand from the Creek and did most of the construction themselves. They celebrated the opening of the new fire station in 1927.
If this building looks small to be a fire station, keep in mind that when it was built, the firefighters were using a cart (not a truck) to hold their equipment. When a fire happened, the firefighters would grab ropes and pull the cart to the site of the fire.
In 1961, the City built the current municipal center, which included police and fire stations, city offices, the library, and the museum. At that point, the Central Station on 12th St. was torn down to make room for off-street parking. The Loveland station was used for meetings.
In 1973, City Council decided to add a meeting room to the “new” fire station at City Hall and sell the Loveland station to help pay for it. They announced that there would be an auction, with the minimum acceptable price of $30,500. They held the auction and had no bidders, so they tried it a second time, with the same result.
In November of 1973, the American Legion offered $25,000 for the building, which the City accepted. They’re still there!
Thanks to Dan Abbott for his book, One Hundred Years and Counting – The History of Golden, Colorado’s Volunteer Fire Department.
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!