Prior to 1934, Camp George West was known as the State Rifle Range. It was used as the headquarters for the Colorado National Guard. Every summer, hundreds of Guard members gathered there in June for a week of drills.
100 Years Ago
The August 12th, 1926 Colorado Transcript described a highly unauthorized maneuver by several National Guard members, aged 16-18.
Guardsmen Land in County Jail
Five young national guardsmen landed in the county jail last Thursday after an escapade that might have resulted seriously. The young soldiers, ranging In age from 16 to 18, secured a high powered rifle apiece from the Rifle Range storeroom and with 600 rounds of ammunition proceeded to shoot up everything between the hogback south of Golden and Green mountain. They broke the transmission line into Morrison, putting the city into darkness, shot a steam boiler of the Denver Fire Brick company full of holes, and terrorized all the inhabitants adjacent to their scene of operations.
Sheriff Walter Johnson was called. He captured the "belligerents" and the “war” was over. Parents of the "warriors" came to Golden and after "reparations” had been agreed upon the boys were permitted to go home with their elders.
Colorado Transcript - August 12th, 1926
