Seasonal Green in Golden
Photo by Patrick Klein
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Saturday, May. 24th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 8AM - Saturday Morning Run and Social Walk
- 9:30AM-12PM - Walk With a Geologist
- 10AM-2PM - Open House @ Golden History Park
- 10AM-5PM - Opening Day - Splash Water Park
- 10AM-3PM - Brunch at the Rose
- 10AM-3PM - Saturday Train Rides
- 10:15-10:45AM - Family Time - Registration Required
- 11AM-7PM - Open Sew
- 11AM-4PM - Memorial Weekend Open House
- 11-11:30AM - Gallery Tour - Floating World - Russell C. Banks
- 1-6PM - Sip-N-Stitch Saturday
- 1PM - Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - MAPAC Children's Theater
- 4-5:30PM - State 38 Cocktail Class
- 5-6:30PM - Golden American Legion Dinner
- 6:30-7:30PM - Soundbath
- 7PM - Colorado Summit Home Game
- 7:30PM - Ring of Fire
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
10AM-5PM Opening Day - Splash Water Park @ The Splash Water Park
Photo courtesy City of Golden
Visit splashingolden.com or call 303-277-8700 for information.
Location:
The Splash Water Park
3151 Illinois Street (Map)
When:
10AM-5PM on Saturday, May. 24th
10AM-3PM Saturday Train Rides @ Colorado Railroad Museum
Ride on-board a passenger car pulled by a powerful locomotive.
More information
Location:
Colorado Railroad Museum
17155 W. 44th Avenue (Map)
When:
10AM-3PM on Saturday, May. 24th
11-11:30AM Gallery Tour - Floating World - Russell C. Banks @ Foothills Art Center - Astor House
A Gallery Guide will lead you in a 25-minute tour, exploring exhibition themes and artworks through focused observation and engaging conversation.
If you're visiting with a group of 10 or more, consider booking ahead of time by calling 303-279-3922.
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Astor House
1133 Arapahoe Street (Map)
When:
11-11:30AM on Saturday, May. 24th
1PM Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - MAPAC Children's Theater @ Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
The best-known story from 1,001 Arabian Nights, Aladdin’s story tells of exotic places, fascinating characters and mysterious doings. Join Aladdin in his adventures as he discovers the treacheries of Evil Magicians, the magic of Djinnis, and the beauty of friendship.
Location:
Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
1103 Arapahoe Street (Map)
When:
1PM on Saturday, May. 24th
5-6:30PM Lasagna for Dinner @ American Legion Post 21
Homemade lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and dessert - $14.00 Public Welcome www.goldenpost21.org
Location:
American Legion Post 21
500 9th Street (Map)
When:
5-6:30PM on Saturday, May. 24th
Live Music for Saturday, May. 24th
- 7PM Freddy Jones Band @ Buffalo Rose (main venue)
- More Live Music
1PM Hornbuckle Band @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
4-8PM Mad Millie Band @Wrigley’s
5-8PM Live Music @ Eddy Taproom6PM Poor Till Payday @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: In Honor of Memorial Day
Golden Cemetery on Memorial Day 2012
Click to enlarge
The Golden Cemetery was created when the City purchased 27 acres for that purpose on May 27, 1873, for $425. It was a lovely spot, on a rise above town, with views in every direction. At that time of year, the mountains and valley would all have been green.
Within a few years, it became evident that the cemetery required more attention than anyone had planned to give it. At that time, grave sites were considered to be the property of the family that purchased them, and the owners were expected to maintain them. More often than not, this expectation was not met. Some deceased had no descendants; some descendants moved away, and some just didn’t feel called to maintain the graves. As another complication, there was no water available on the site, so there was no way to maintain flowers, bushes, or trees. The cemetery was a hot, dry, barren, tangle of weeds.
Beginning in 1883, the Colorado Transcript began hectoring and badgering the City and its residents to do something about the cemetery. The paper published major articles at least once a year, saying we should get a water supply to the cemetery. Some years it suggested a ditch from Clear Creek, others it said we should sink a well. One year it suggested catching runoff from the gulches to the west and creating a reservoir.
Public meetings were held every few years to whip up enthusiasm and funding. Money, of course, was the major obstacle. The City operated on a shoestring and had no money for such a major undertaking. Some citizens were willing to subscribe to a fund, but not enough. For a few years, the local undertaker wrote articles every spring, right before Memorial Day, listing actions needed to fix the cemetery.
This cycle of outrage, enthusiasm, and inaction persisted for more than 60 years until finally, in 1935, the cemetery found the champion it needed. Mayor A. E. Jones made it his personal mission to improve the state of the Golden cemetery. He described its condition as “Deplorable…not only weeds but monuments fallen over, and on some lots that have markers painted, the paint is gone and it is impossible to make out enough of the letters to form an idea as to who lies beneath.”
Mayor Jones approached the Federal government to see whether the W.P.A. (Roosevelt-era public works program) could help. He learned that they would provide labor, but not materials, so he set to work scrounging. He told everyone he met about the state of the cemetery and let everyone know that he needed pipe for an irrigation system. Many people donated old pipe. Adolph Coors donated a tank that they no longer used, and several hundred feet of discarded pipe. People donated trees from their yards. A 1937 Transcript article advised that if you’re looking for the Mayor, check the cemetery. You’ll find him there with a shovel or hoe or pipe wrench in his hands.
Mayor Jones also set up the system of perpetual care. For a fee, the City would agree to take care of a grave in perpetuity. They persuaded some residents to finance care for graves of their deceased family members. They asked the State Historical Society to fund care for some of the pioneer-era graves, and occasionally someone would endow a grave. The D.A.R. sponsored Edward Berthoud’s grave in 1939. He had died in 1910, and for many years his grave was unmarked. In 1943 the City began requiring perpetual care fees with all new grave site purchases.
With the small but growing fund for perpetual care, the cemetery slowly improved. In 1951, the City began a multi-year project to upgrade the Depression era cobbled-together irrigation system. They graded the streets and added gravel surface. They lined the streets with evergreens that they brought down from our Beaver Brook reservoir. Graves that had perpetual care were mowed and watered, gravestones straightened, and back-fill provided if they had sunk.
In earlier times, the custom had been to put fences or cement curbing around graves. This caused a maintenance problem for the caretakers, since grass needed to be hand-trimmed around those obstacles. Over time, with permission from owners, they removed the fences and curbs. The City let it be known that if grave owners would furnish the grass seed, the City would plant, water, and mow it.
By 1953, the Transcript was able to report that “Many out of town people have purchased plots as a result of the new perpetual care plan.”
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 53, with temperatures rising to around 55 overnight. North northwest wind around 3 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Partly sunny. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. North northeast wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 51°F
Sunday: Showers And Thunderstorms, 62°F
Sunday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms, 50°F
Memorial Day: Showers And Thunderstorms, 65°F
Monday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 49°F
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 73°F
Tuesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 51°F
Wednesday: Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 71°F
Wednesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 52°F
Thursday: Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 73°F
Thursday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 54°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 77°F
News About Golden - May 24, 2025
Goldenites ‘impressed’ with latest designs for new municipal center
By Corinne Westeman
Golden Transcript
For now, the City of Golden’s new municipal center and police headquarters still only exists on paper, but that won’t be the case for much longer.
Golden will break ground this summer at the vacant lot at 311 10th St... Read more...
GOLDEN CIVIC FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $124,049 IN COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS;WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT ANNUAL BREAKFAST
Golden Civic Foundation
GOLDEN, CO — The Golden Civic Foundation (GCF) announced the investment of $124,049 in Community Impact Grants to 47 nonprofit organizations at its annual Grants Breakfast held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at The Buffalo Rose. This year’s funding includes $21,000 dedicated to Golden-area schools and supports projects across six key community priorities, including civic development, arts and culture, education, social services, youth, and environment... Read more... Download PDF below.
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, Joy Brandt, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, and the Colorado Railroad Museum, Goosetown Station
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, 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, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, and Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch.
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, 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, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, and Mary Rains, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Kim Linton, Steve Stevens
