Clear Creek on a Cloudy Morning
Photo by Richard Luckin
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Jun. 24th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 7-9AM - Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup
- 10:15-10:45AM - Let's Dance
- 12-12:30PM - Mondays with the Mayor
- 1-2:30PM - Files and Email Management
- 2-3PM - Virtual: Active Minds Monday
- 5:30-8PM - The Principles of Artistic Expression
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
- 6:30PM - Rescheduled: Planning Commission Meeting
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
What’s Blooming Along Golden’s Trails? Pricklypear Cactus
Figure 1. Two Pricklypear cacti that live in Golden. Western Pricklypear (left), and Plains Pricklypear (right).
By Tom Schweich
We have two Pricklypear or Opuntia cacti that are common in Golden open spaces and along trails. Sometimes they are right next to each other. They are the “Western Pricklypear” (Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.) and the “Plains Pricklypear” (Opuntia polyacantha Haw.)
The flowers of the two species are very similar, but the species are easily distinguished by looking at the spines on the pads. Western Pricklypear has large white spines only on the top half of the pads, whereas Plains Pricklypear has large white spines covering the entire pad.
Western Pricklypear (Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.) has been found on North and South Table Mountains, Dakota Ridge, Schweich Hill, the Survey Field, and
DeLong Park. In Colorado it is found along the Front Range and foothills with a few collections in the Colorado mountain valleys.
The cactus was first described by George Engelmann, M.D. (1850) from a collection by Ferdinand Lindheimer on the Guadalupe River of west Texas. Lindheimer was a member of the German colony at New Braunfels, Texas, and made thousands of plant collections in Texas in the 1830s and 1840s.
The other cactus, the Plains Pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha Haw.) is also found in most localities in Golden, specifically North and South Table Mountain, Dakota Ridge, Schweich Hill, Deadman Gulch (Kinney Run) and the Survey Field. In Colorado there are many collections from the plains, foothills, and mountain valleys.
Plains Pricklypear was recognized as a species by Thomas Nuttall (1818) who wrote that he had seen it on the dry plains of the Missouri River in 1811. At the time, all cacti were known by Linnaeus’ (1753) generic name of Cactus. Unfortunately, Nuttall’s name of Cactus ferox had been previously used for a different cactus. Adrian Haworth (1819), after studying a specimen of Plains Pricklypear grown in the Physic Garden of Chelsea along the Thames River in London, provided a valid name of Opuntia polyacantha Haw. It was common for North American plants to be grown in the botanic gardens of England, where they were described scientifically.
There are several other Pricklypears (Opuntia spp.) that some cactus experts believe occur along the Front Range, though our current Flora of Colorado (Ackerfield, 2022) does not agree. Chief among them is “Grassland Pricklypear” (Opuntia cymochila) described by George Engelmann M.D. & J. M. Bigelow when describing the cacti from Whipple Expedition of the Pacific Railroad Surveys (1853-1855). We will have to leave the question of whether the Grassland Pricklypear occurs in Colorado to the Pricklypear experts.
6:30PM Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall
300 Lily Lane - Google Street Images
Planning Commission will consider a case involving 300 Lily Lane (map). The owners are requesting to build a 2nd story onto the existing home, staying within the current footprint. They are requesting a Major Adjustment to allow 2 stories/23feet in height where 1 story/20 feet is the maximum allowed for a 2nd floor addition to an existing home.
If the Major Adjustment is approved, the Planning Director will approve three Minor Adjustments:
- A reduced sidewalk width per 18.29.07.001.3.g.1
- A reduced landscape strip width per
- A reduced front porch per 18.29.07.001.3.f.1
Watch the meeting on this page (starting at 6:30).
See the meeting packet here.
Attend in person at City Hall.
2-3PM Virtual/Call In: Active Minds Mondays - Picasso
At Jefferson County Public Library, we foster continuous learning and connections. Keep your minds engaged every Monday! Be sure to explore our website for additional weekly event options, including call-ins and livestreams.
Today’s theme: Picasso
Born in Spain in 1881, Pablo Picasso would live a life that would redefine the structure and concept of visual art. Over the course of his 91 years, his works as a painter and sculptor would be associated with various movements in 20th Century modern art, most notably Cubism. Join Active Minds as we explore the life and revolutionary works of Picasso.
Summer Music & Taylor Swift Trivia @ The Golden Mill
5-7PM SUMMER MUSIC LIVE SERIES: Brennen Kemmerer
6:30-8:30PM Taylor Swift Trivia
Calling all Swifties! Dress from your favorite Era and come join us for a night of Taylor fun, with her specialty cocktail on tap, bracelet making stations and lots of Taylor trivia!
Join us Monday, June 24th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM for Taylor Swift Themed Trivia Night!
Golden Mill
1012 Ford Street (map)
Golden History: An Explosive Industry
Excerpt from the 1899 Willets Farm Map showing the site for the proposed blasting powder factory – enlarge
The early Colorado Transcript tended toward “aspirational journalism.” They would want some particular enhancement to the town so much that they wrote as if it was already a done deal.
115 Years Ago
In the spring of 1909, representatives from a Pueblo-based blasting powder company visited Golden. The were testing a new, non-freezing blasting powder in some of our clay mines.
The June 17, 1909 Colorado Transcript announced TROJAN POWDER COMPANY TO BUILD FACTORY HERE. The article stated that the Pueblo-based company would build a factory here and it would employ forty men. The previous week, the Golden Improvement Club (a precursor to the Golden Chamber) had wined and dined the representatives of the company and promised to donate a site if they would build a factory here.
Two members of the Improvement Club were authorized to locate an appropriate site and negotiate a deal for it. They did: they persuaded the Golden Pressed and Fire Brick company to sell ten acres of land between the brick plant and the rock crusher on North Table Mountain. This would be a bit north of the spot where Highway 93 intersects with Golden Gate Canyon Road (map).
A week later, the June 24, 1909 Transcript stepped back a bit: “As yet no decision has been reached by the officials of the Trojan Powder company in regard to locating the plant in Golden.” It seemed that Trojan’s Colorado representative needed to check with the company brass in New York.
The June 24th issue also responded to local concerns about having a powder factory so close to town. The Transcript‘s rival newspaper, the Golden Globe, had printed an article including this:
Records show that the effect of such an accident would blow every pane of glass in Golden to ballyheck, and North Table mountain would be scattered all over the valley for miles, leaving either a large hole in the ground or a good bit of farming land or a lake. We believe that five miles from Golden would be a safer distance to put a powder manufactory. However, we all ought to be prepared to die and perhaps ought to take the risk, seeing that it is a new enterprise for Golden.
The Transcript huffed back that it wouldn’t be that dangerous and gave various examples of dynamite plants that hadn’t blown up their neighbors. They concluded with the statement that “Golden needs industries with a payroll, and will not allow knockers to side track any that are headed this way.”
There was a brief article in the July 1st issue, saying that the issue was still under consideration, and a briefer article in the August 26th issue, saying that the Trojan Powder company would not be building a factory in Golden any time soon. Sometimes journalistic aspirations–no matter how badly you want them–don’t pan out.
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!
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny. High near 93, with temperatures falling to around 89 in the afternoon. Northwest wind 3 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A slight chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday Night: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy, 67°F
Tuesday: Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 94°F
Tuesday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 66°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 92°F
Wednesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 65°F
Thursday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 90°F
Thursday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 66°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 88°F
Friday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 59°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 84°F
Saturday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 63°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 91°F
News Relating to Golden - June 24, 2024
A helping hand offers single moms car repair, replacement
By Anya Moore
Denver Gazette
When Wren Garcia's car broke down on the way to work three months ago, it threatened to further upend her life.
The mother of two children and survivor of domestic violence is no stranger to hardship... Read more...
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Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Golden History Museum, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden Hayride Outpost, Kona Bowls, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason
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Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Barbara Banks & Ed Imatani, and Joy Brandt
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Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, 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
Members:
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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, Casey & Gina Brown, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Carol Abel, 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, 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, and the Golden Transcript
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Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson
