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What's Happening in Golden - Friday, Apr. 5th

News and events in Golden, Colorado. Friday, Apr. 5th

,   and  Barb Warden
11 min read
Click to enlarge

The Clock on a Classic Spring Morning

Photo by: Richard Luckin

What's happening in Golden today?

Events for Friday, Apr. 5th

    The Friday Tour
    Golden History Tours
    Toddler Time
    A Jukebox for the Algonquin

    For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar

    Colorado Rails & Cocktails


    6PM Join award-winning documentary producer Richard Luckin for a showing of his just-released program Railroad Stations in American Life.An Evening of Colorado History. Relax, have a beverage, and travel back to a time when railroads shaped the American West.

    This beautifully illustrated film documents the U.S. railroad station’s development from civic center into today’s temples of transportation. Researched by Peter A. Hansen and narrated by Michael Gross, the program presents a diverse cast of historians on-camera examining the role of the railroad station in America.

    The railroad station was once an institution in American life, in small towns and big cities alike. This human-interest tale is interwoven with history as the program explores how people interacted with the stations in their towns through multiple generations. Locations are covered across the U.S. and include both stations still active in transportation, and others preserved but re-purposed. An intermission break will be included, plus Q&A with producer Luckin at the conclusion of the showing.

    Admission is $20 Adults, with advance reservations strongly suggested to ensure seating. Ages 21+ only. Admission includes 2 beverages of your choice (beer, wine, or soda) and a selection of light snacks. Doors open at 6 p.m., bar opens by 6:30 p.m., and presentation begins promptly at 7 p.m.Minimum Age: 21

    Tickets

    Colorado Railroad Museum
    17155 W. 44th Avenue (map)

    Night at the Mines Museum


    5-9PM Enjoy the museum after-hours, with all its wonders illuminated and ready for exploration! Take in live music, grab a drink from the bar, and partake in special activities run by our favorite local museums. It promises to be a night of fun and discovery! Admission: FREE

    Watch a Bismuth making demonstration, and take home your very own Bismuth crystal! $5, spots must be reserved in advance. 303-273-3815. All proceeds go towards supporting the Mines Museum's mission to foster an appreciation of the Earth, energy and the environment through exploration, engagement, and enlightenment.

    Mines Museum
    1310 Maple St (map)

    JSO Young Artist Recital


    Enjoy a chamber performance by flutist Ann Kuo, 2024 Winner of the JSO Young Artists Competition for Winds, Brass, and Percussion. This recital offers a delightful blend of styles and eras, ensuring there's something for every music enthusiast to savor.

    Plus, you'll meet our solo artist in a post-concert reception. After the recital, many chamber musicians enjoy interacting with the audience, you'll gain insights into their craft, artistic choices, and the stories behind the artistry.

    Learn more and buy tickets

    Jefferson Unitarian Church
    14350 W. 32nd Avenue (map)

    Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum: Ricky Tims Presents From Conception to Completion


    4-7PM Ricky will provide an insightful lecture / workshop that focuses on how Ricky Tims, a quilt artist, fosters ideas from conception to completion. The lecture will offer suggestions on connecting with the Creative Muse and provide insight into various ways quilters should approach their ideas. Additionally, Ricky will share an overview of various techniques that would be required to bring a vision to reality.

    Supplies: Curiosity, open mind, a friend or fellow artist (doesn't have to be a quilter!) AND a brand new sketchbook to take notes and allow your mind to take off in new directions, about creating quilts, art, or any type of creative endeavor.

    $ 75 - Learn more and buy tickets

    Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
    200 Violet Street (map)

    Trail Capacity Construction

    Photo by Chris Davell

    You may have wondered why access to the Clear Creek Trail has been blocked near the City's campground. The City is currently widening the path to increase capacity on the popular trail. In mid-summer, this spot has formed a bottleneck for the many pedestrians, bicyclists, and tubers who sharethe trail.

    Saturday Preview

    Just in case you check email a little later on Saturdays, I wanted to mention a couple of 10AM events.

    Foothills Art Center is having a painting class with the ever-popular Janet Nunn.

    Councilors Evans and Vitry will host the monthly Coffee with Councilors at the Golden Community Center. Their main topic this month will be the new parking management program, but you can also discuss anything else that's on your mind (about the City).

    Live Music for Friday, Apr. 5th

      Jonny Sterling @ Buffalo Rose
      Face Vocal Band @ Buffalo Rose
      • 7:00 PM-10:00 PM: Face Vocal Band @ Buffalo Rose @ Buffalo Rose
        Buffalo Rose (main venue)
      • More Live Music
        5-8PM         Live Music @ Eddy Taproom
        5:30-8:30PM Josh Bierman @ Barrels and Bottles @ Camp George West
        6-9PM Jesh Yancey and the High Hopes @ Goosetown Station
        7PM Band of Brothers @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
        9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern

      For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar

      Golden History: Scenic Trip Through the Canyon (Part 1)

      Commanding the Grandest Scenery of the Rock Mountains

      148 Years Ago
      The April 5, 1876 Colorado Transcript included an advertisement for scenic excursions through Clear Creek Canyon on the Colorado Central Railway.

      Considered by all who have visited it to be the most wonderful Railway in the word, winding its serpentine course, as it does through this wild Canon, with perpendicular walls upon each side that are in places over two thousand feet in height.
      Colorado Transcript -       April 5, 1876

      Thanks to Bill Robie, inveterate collector of antique postcards relevant to Golden's railroads, we have a wonderful record of what early passengers would have seen. Bill wrote and provided the graphics for the following story:

      GOLDEN TO “INSPIRATION POINT”
      Early 1900 Clear Creek Canyon postcards were always of the railroad and the various passenger and freight trains that used the line. Construction west of Golden began in August, 1871, as the Colorado Central and the line was finally abandoned and dismantled as the Colorado & Southern in 1941.

      A wooden flume high over the creek creates a waterfall tumbling down. Steam engine in the distance.

      This interesting postcard shows water from the Welch Ditch overflow weir cascading down into Clear Creek. The location is just west of Golden near the present-day entrance to Hwy 6 Tunnel No. 1. Just visible on the left side of the view is a small section of the railway track and a steam locomotive drawn in by hand. Photographers, from which the postcards were usually made, almost never waited around for a train to come. They just took the image and had the train drawn in later back in the studio.

      Big rock jutting from the canyon wall hangs over a man sitting on a handcart on narrow gauge tracks.

      “Hanging Rock” was the first railroad feature customarily photographed west of Golden. The location, looking up the canyon in this view, is now under Hwy 6 on the south bank of Clear Creek about 1/2 mile before the entrance to Tunnel No. 2.

      Hand tinted postcard shows fly fisherman in the creek below the railroad tracks in Clear Creek Canyon

      In this view looking west, a short distance beyond “Hanging Rock”, the track is on the south bank of Clear Creek and now under Hwy 6. Around the curve to the right is the entrance to Tunnel 2 right after the highway crosses to the north bank of clear creek. “The Old Roadmaster” rock pinnacle stands tall in the upper portion of the view.

      The tracks curves through a particularly narrow spot in the canyon. Creek is not much lower than the tracks.

      “Mother Grundy” was named for the face silhouette on the rock wall in this view on the south bank of Clear Creek looking down the canyon. The location is opposite the entrance to Tunnel 2 where the uphill track curves left to enter the portion of the canyon now bypassed by the tunnel which would be to the left of this view on the north side of the Creek.

      Steam locomotive coming down the tracks toward photographer. Red canyon walls and big black plume of smoke from the train.

      “Inspiration Point” was in the section of the canyon bypassed by Tunnel 2 which bores through the rock ridge on the left side of this view. The train is heading west along the south bank of Clear Creek. An average track grade in the canyon of almost 2% and nearly continuous curves required the small locomotives even with short trains to work very hard. The firemen must have constantly shoveled coal into the boiler to keep the steam pressure up producing tall columns of dark gray smoke. The noise reverberating between the canyon walls must have been intense.

      BEAVER BROOK TO FORKS CREEK
      Just beyond “Inspiration Point”, in this artist’s view looking down the canyon, was the Beaver Brook station at the point where Beaver Brook enters Clear Creek. This location is also in the canyon section bypassed by Tunnel 2. Scheduled train time for the 7.6 miles from Golden to Beaver Brook was 45 minutes in 1882.

      Tan-colored illustration showing engine #3 under steam with the Beaver Brook pavilion and a water tower in the background.

      Beaver Brook station, on the south bank of Clear Creek, with its large pavilion perched on the hillside along with other entertaining attractions, was a popular destination for day-tourists, weekenders, and host for many “merry” events. Locomotives could also replenish their water supply here from the trackside water tank.

      Steam engine coming through a cut in the canyon walls. Roadbed is built up above the creek.

      A little further along was “Rocky Point” located on a sharp, right curve nearly opposite the uphill end of Tunnel 2 which would be to the left in this view looking down the canyon. Notice the long section of dry-stack rock retaining wall common throughout the canyon to support the roadbed. Also notice the superimposed hand-drawn locomotive and train.

      To be continued tomorrow….

      Many thanks to Bill Robie for this detailed progression through Clear Creek Canyon and sharing these rare and interesting postcards!

      Weather

      Overnight's Weather

      Overnight: Mostly cloudy. Low around 48, with temperatures rising to around 51 overnight. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.

      Friday's Weather

      Friday: Patchy blowing dust after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. South southwest wind 6 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

      Friday Night's Weather

      Friday Night: A chance of rain showers after midnight. Partly cloudy. Low around 41, with temperatures rising to around 49 overnight. South southwest wind 13 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

      News Relating to Golden - April 5, 2024

      Avenue Flashes: Former Easter Bunny highlights a spring event

      By John Akal
      Golden Transcript

      Well, I made it through Easter without having to wear some kind of Easter Bunny costume this year. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Once, long ago when I was a young, handsome fellow I ended up getting hired to be the Easter Bunny at Heritage Square Amusement Park, which used to be here on the south side of Golden... Read more...

      On thin ice: Local ice climbers adapt to a warming world 

      By Meryl Phair
      Golden Transcript

      On the rock crags of Clear Creek Canyon, water flows harden into ice as solid as the rocks beneath them. As temperatures drop across Colorado’s Front Range during the winter, a dynamic balance between cold nights that freeze ice and warmer days that thaw it enough for the water beneath to flow, keeps the ice consistently thick. 

      Secret Waterfall, Mickey’s Big Mouth and Coors Light have become reliable routes for ice climbers just outside of Golden. While adapting to changes on the ice is as necessary to a climber as ice axes and crampons, climbers say that in recent years, the ice flows have been shifting... Read more...

      JCPH Announces 2023 Public Health Champions During NPHW (También Disponible en Español)

      Jefferson County Public Health

      Jefferson County, Colo. — At Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH), we take great pride in our county and are grateful for the chance to serve our residents, striving to make our home a healthier and safer place for everyone. However, we understand that we can't achieve this alone. During a time when the importance of public health has never been more evident, we acknowledge those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation in advancing the health and well-being of Jefferson County... Read more...

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