MLK Day
Photo by Frank Hanou
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Jan. 20th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 5:30PM - Board Game & Euchre Night
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Puzzle: Residual Cowboys
If you're reading this as part of your morning newsletter, visit the website to work the puzzle.
Pro Tips!
You can make the puzzle harder or easier to work by choosing the number of pieces contained in the puzzle. Before clicking "OK" to start the puzzle, click the 9-Dot symbol and select the number of pieces you want to tackle.
You can start with only the edge pieces (just as you might with a real life puzzle). Click the Frame button, as shown above. Once you've completed the frame, all the other pieces will appear.
Make the puzzle bigger (and easier to see as you work) by clicking the "Full Screen" button.
The Mystery Construction Site
Photo by Patrick Klein
Did you identify the location of yesterday's unnamed construction site? It's the new mixed use project in Pleasant View just east of King Soopers.
Golden History: Extra History Today: Inauguration 1933
Have I mentioned that the Transcript was traditionally a Democratic newspaper? On this inauguration day, I wondered how they responded to the election of the ultimate Democratic president–Franklin D. Roosevelt. It took me a while to locate the right editions–I had forgotten that inaugurations took place in March back in 1933.
March 2, 1933
I soon determined that inaugurations were less all-consuming at that time. I reviewed the March 2, 1933 Colorado Transcript (right before the March 4th inauguration). The front page included not a single article about national politics.
The lead article discussed Golden’s ongoing search for additional water supplies. E-Days at the School of Mines had attracted 150 visitors. Golden and Arvada High Schools were going to play basketball that night, and the School of Mines was set to name a new athletic coach. There was a substantial placer gold strike near Arvada, which was yielding $1-5 per cubic yard.
The Colorado & Southern Railroad planned to start offering “handcar passenger service” from Golden to Idaho Springs. The service would only be offered when five first class tickets were purchased.
A Russian student at the School of Mines narrowly avoided death on the “South Golden Highway” (now Colfax) when a passing truck loaded with lumber nearly decapitated him. The truck had a long pole projecting out to the side, which crashed into the student’s car and missed him by inches.
An employee of the Golden Mill got a broken rib and a deep cut in his hand when the truck he was driving was hit by an Intermountain (railroad) car at 24th and Jackson. (Sounds like it was the driver’s fault: he drove onto the track without noticing the railroad car bearing down on him.)
Work was beginning on a new coal shaft south of Golden. They expected to go 200 feet deep, produce 150 tons of coal a day , and employ 25 men (exclusively Golden men).
Mr. and Mrs. Williams were asleep in their home at 923 Cheyenne Street when “a mass of flame crept up the side of their frame dwelling.” Fortunately, neighbors spotted the fire and quickly extinguished it with buckets and hoses. It was believed that the fire started when a spark blew from a neighbor’s ash pit.
Candidates had been chosen for a City Council election set to take place the following month.
There was hope that the indoor swimming pool called the Golden Plunge (now located under the floor at the Buffalo Rose) would be opening soon. The business had fallen into the bank’s possession, but several parties were interested in acquiring and reopening it.
The editorial page had a couple of references to the incoming administration, but none of the gushing details about pageantry that we expect today.
March 9, 1933
The week after the inauguration, the front page again discussed the water supply, upcoming city council election, a fire, and high school basketball, but there was one major national event: Roosevelt had declared a bank holiday, and Golden’s Rubey Bank was closed.
The editorial page focused a little more on national issues. Vera West wrote about the bank holiday, which she viewed as the opening salvo in a fight to clean up corruption and unfair business practices. Neil West Kimball speculated that Colorado bank depositors would be permitted to withdraw 5% of their deposits per month. George Kimball wrote:
Since the new national administration took charge a few days ago have you noticed marked improvement in business conditions, weather, the children’s behavior, health, picture shows, your bridge game? If not, it’s time to dig up a lot of new terms for cussing the government. The only means by which you’ll ever get everything arranged just exactly as you want it is to sit back on your haunches and howl.
Golden History: The Citizens of 1870
Early Stores on Washington Avenue – Denver Public Library Western History Collection
Click to enlarge
Recently, I went on a hunt for the 1870 census records for Golden. To my surprise, I wasn’t able to get the breakdown from the US Census; instead, they directed me to ancestry.com. I set up a two week trial membership.
It was worth the effort! I was able to see the hand-written documents that recorded every citizen in town, their profession, their place of birth, where their parents were born, the value of their real estate holdings and “personal estate,” and whether they were registered to vote.
Golden’s population was at its lowest point in 1870. There had been 1,014 residents in 1860, during the gold rush. The Civil War (1861-1865) caused many of the early settlers to head back east.
The 1870 census recorded only 587 residents in Golden. The town was very close to extinction. Fortunately, our leading citizen, William A. H. Loveland, was working hard to bring a railroad to Golden. By the end of the year, he had succeeded, and Golden’s population grew substantially after that. The 1880 census recorded 2,730 residents.
Since we’re celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day today, I thought I’d look at the ethnic makeup of 1870 Golden. The census offered fewer options at that time: the options were White, Black, Mulatto, Chinese, and Indian. That’s not many options, but it was more than we needed. Every citizen in Golden was either White or Black. Here’s the breakdown:
331 White males | 224 White females | 8 Colored males | 4 Colored females
This means that our population at that time was 98% White and 2% Black.
The 2020 census offered more options:
White alone, percent 90.5%
Black or African American alone, percent 1.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent 0.4%
Asian alone, percent 2.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent 0.0%
Two or More Races, percent 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino, percent 9.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 84.1%
(There’s apparently overlap in these categories, since those numbers add up to 192%.)
At any rate, in honor of our pioneer Black citizens, here are their hand-written 1870 census records:
Weather
Overnight: Snow. Cloudy, with a low around -4. Wind chill values as low as -13. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
M.L. King Jr. Day: A chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy. High near 7, with temperatures falling to around 4 in the afternoon. Wind chill values as low as -14. East northeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Monday Night: Mostly clear. Low around -3, with temperatures rising to around 11 overnight. Wind chill values as low as -16. West southwest wind 3 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly Clear, -3°F
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny, 41°F
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 20°F
Wednesday: Slight Chance Light Snow, 33°F
Wednesday Night: Partly Cloudy, 16°F
Thursday: Mostly Sunny, 38°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 26°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain And Snow, 50°F
Friday Night: Chance Rain And Snow, 23°F
Saturday: Chance Light Snow, 29°F
Saturday Night: Chance Light Snow, 16°F
Sunday: Slight Chance Light Snow, 34°F
Supporters
Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden? If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!
Sponsors:
($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, and Michael Mason
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Joy Brandt, and Vic DeMaria
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, AC Development, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, and The Golden Hotel
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, John & Carol McEncroe, and Rose McLaughlin
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser
