Still Growing!
Photo by Richard Luckin
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What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Wednesday, Aug. 20th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 7:30-9AM - Citizens Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
- 8:30-10:30AM - Golden Walks
- 9-10AM - Golden Women in Business Book Club*
- 10:15-10:45AM - Toddler Time - Registration Required
- 1-2:30PM - Files and Email Management
- 3-5PM - Virtual/Call In: Hard Times Writing Workshop
- 5:30PM - Golden Cornhole League
- 5:30PM - Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall
- 6PM - Foothills Running and Cycling Club Track Practice
- 7PM - Country Line Dancing Night
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
7:30-9AM Citizens Budget Advisory Committee Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 7:30AM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
CBAC will review the June sales, use, lodging, and marijuana tax collections. Tax reports are always for two months ago, since (for example) the June taxes are paid to the City during July.
June
Sales Tax - $2,625,172
Use Tax - $375,614
Lodging Tax - $341,701
Marijuana Tax - $296,068
They will hear from the Thriving Communities Director and the Chief of Police about the co-responder program. Co-responders accompany police officers when a disturbance may be mental health or social services-related rather than criminal activity.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
1-2:30PM Files and Email Management @ Golden Library
Get your computer files and emails organized! Learn how to search your files, create folders and subfolders, rename items, move documents, and create an organization system. Then learn how to sort your emails, quickly mass delete unwanted messages, and save important messages for future reference.
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills, including using a mouse and keyboard
Location:
Golden Library
1019 10th Street (Map)
5:30PM Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 5:30PM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
- Send comments on any of the following topics to planning@cityofgolden.net
- Provide in-person comment during the meeting, at 5:30PM.
Owners of the stone barn at 813 Cheyenne (built in 1871) will request two major adjustments to enable them to convert the building to a workshop (first floor) and home office (second floor). The proposed changes would require a reduction of required setback from the property line and a 5% increase in allowed square footage on the property. Learn more.
Comprehensive Plan Study Session
Planning Commission will move to study session to discuss the draft Comprehensive Plan. Staff has held several public input meetings to gather opinions but cautions that the input gathered should not be considered as representative. They also brought the draft to City Council for their insights. Both types of input (the public and City Council) appear on Guiding Golden.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
7PM Country Line Dancing Night @ Buffalo Rose
Kick Up Your Heels at the Buffalo Rose! Get ready to boot scoot and boogie at Golden's hottest country night! Join Jeff Goodwin and the Front Range Cowboys for an evening of toe-tapping tunes and line dancing that'll have you two-stepping till closing time. Tickets: $10 at the door.
Location:
Buffalo Rose (main venue)
1119 Washington Avenue (Map)
Live Music for Wednesday, Aug. 20th
- 6-9PM Eric Golden @ Miners Saloon
- More Live Music
4-8PM Chrispy @ Mountain Toad
5-8PM Jordan Yewey @ Golden Hotel
6PM Live Music @ Rock Rest Lodge
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: An Innovative Blacksmith
72 Years Ago
The August 20, 1953 Colorado Transcript included an obituary for W. H. Fromhart. His life was summarized as follows:
Mr. Fromhart was an early-day blacksmith, and did much wagon building and horse-shoeing for the Adolph Coors Co. Later he was in the hardware business and eventually entered the automobile business. He was a dealer for Chevrolet cars, and others, for many years.
A search through the previous 50 years' worth of Transcripts turned up more interesting information about the man.
In 1902, Will Fromhart bought the former Phil Klatt Blacksmith shop, which was located on the southeast corner of 12th and Ford. Fromhart had the reputation of being an excellent blacksmith. The Transcript commented that “He is an expert in this line, and makes a specialty of horseshoeing. He shoes so as to correct defects, such as interfering, overreaching and imperfect gaits.”
Fromhart also built custom carriages and wagons. In 1904, he had the opportunity to buy out a carriage-building business that was closing in Central City.
Among the more important pieces of machinery are a large trip-hammer, band saw, planer and jointer, hub boring machine, two-wheel emory stone, large power grind stone, two tire benders, large power drill press, tire shrinkers, hydraulic box press, a ten horsepower electric motor, and a whole house full of pulleys, shafting, belting, etc. Besides this complete set of machinery there is included in the purchase a large number of carriages and wagons, completed and partly so, and a big stock of new materials for their manufacture.
This was a great launching point for Fromhart, who made “a specialty of building gardeners’ and fruit wagons that cannot be excelled.”
Fromhart was evidently an innovator. In 1910, he was granted a patent on a hinge that allowed wagon endgates to be locked at any angle. In the years that followed, he set up a manufacturing plant to produce the hinges in Greeley.
In addition to his custom work, he sold some mass-produced stock, including “Staver and Hercules buggies, the Steel King wagons, Iowa Dairy Separators, Lucas paints and varnishes, builders’ and shelf hardware, Dempster windmills and pumps.”
By 1916, he was building truck bodies for small motor cars. “Many Jefferson county farmers are using their pleasure cars for produce wagons. Mr. Fromhart is making an average of four bodies each week.”
Fromhart was interested in automobiles, and in 1919 he retooled his blacksmith shop to become a garage, for fixing and maintaining autos. In 1923 he became a Chevrolet dealer. At that time, every new car purchase was a news item, so we know that he sold several cars per week. In 1934, he switched to selling Dodge and Plymouth cars.
Mr. Fromhart retired in the late 1930s, and died in 1953.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. West wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. East southeast wind 3 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South southwest wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly Clear, 67°F
Thursday: Sunny, 95°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 65°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 85°F
Friday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 62°F
Saturday: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 80°F
Saturday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 59°F
Sunday: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 77°F
Sunday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 60°F
Monday: Chance Rain Showers then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 76°F
Monday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 59°F
Tuesday: Showers And Thunderstorms, 74°F
News About Golden - August 20, 2025
News Release: Jud Virden, Ph.D., Appointed Laboratory Director at NREL
NREL
The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance) today announced the appointment of Jud Virden, Ph.D., as director of NREL and president of the Alliance, which manages the laboratory for the Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Virden will officially join NREL in this role on Oct. 1, 2025. Virden was selected following a competitive national search... Read more...
Colorado prep football: 101 impact players to watch in 2025
By Matt Schubert
Denver Post
After scouring prospect lists, CHSAANow all-state teams and 2024 stats, The Denver Post compiled a list of some of Colorado’s top high school football talent. Players are listed in alphabetical order and are limited to 11-man football programs... Read more...
2025 M Climb: New Orediggers set to ascend Golden’s Mount Zion on Aug. 22
By Erich Kirshner
Colorado School of Mines Newsroom
Colorado School of Mines will hold its annual M Climb this week to welcome first-year students to campus.
A Mines tradition dating back to 1908, the M Climb brings together the newest class of Orediggers every year the Friday before fall classes begin... Read more...
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 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, Michael Mason, Colorado Railroad Museum, and 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, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and Joy Brandt
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, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, and Centennial State Wealth Advisors
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, Mary Eiberger, Kevin Nichols, Ed & Carol Freza, Laura and Curtis Moore, Ruth Hund, Shelley & Jerry Devitt, Eileen Masterson, and Kate Olivier
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Steve Stevens, Vicki Olson, Emily Kurzinski, Nanette Johnson, and Peyton Gibson
