95 Years Ago
In 1931, Colorado joined several other states by enacting a law prohibiting "gin marriages." This was a slang term for a hasty marriage, often done under the influence of alcohol. The new law required a 5-day waiting period between the issuance of a marriage license and the wedding ceremony. It also required that licenses be issued only during regular office hours.
The August 27, 1931 Colorado Transcript commented that "This provision will save County Clerk M. C. Everitt many a midnight ride to his office, for in the past a large share of the licenses issued in Golden have been secured at night."
The following week's paper reported that there had been a sudden rush for marriage licenses before the new rule went into effect, with 14 issued at the Golden courthouse the previous Monday.
The law was repealed two years later. People who wanted to elope still did; they just went to other states to get married. As a result, Colorado counties were losing marriage license revenue.
