120 and 166 Years Ago
In the June 15, 1905 Colorado Transcript, George West recalled his arrival in Golden on June 12, 1859:
…an anniversary of more than passing interest to the writer of this article, as just forty-six years before he arrived for the first time upon the sedgy banks of Clear creek, then known as Vasquez fork of the South Platte. The remarkable pellucidity of its waters, filled as they were with myriads of trout, and the banks skirted with countless pensile willows and waving cottonwoods made it the admiration of all, and it was voted an ideal spot for a camping ground, a veritable haven of rest after more than two months journey with ox teams across the arid plains from St. Joe., Mo.
Our immediate company, known as the Boston company, which made the journey together, comprising seven members who had left the “Hub” late in March, crossed the Missouri at St. Joe on April 1st… Upon our arrival here there were perhaps half a dozen small outfits encamped along the banks of the creek, some of them already preparing to push farther on into the mountains, packing their belongings upon ponies, and even upon the backs of their oxen, as at that time no roads had been opened into or through their rugged fastnesses. This circumstance struck us at once as evidence that if the mines which had at that time been discovered should amount to anything, this as a location for transfer of goods, would be just the place for a town.
Lots were selected by the Boston company and a party sent to the mountains to prepare the timbers for a substantial building, as there was at that time no lumber to be had in the country. Logs were cut and hewn and hauled to the site selected, and a substantial log building, two stories in height was erected as rapidly as possible. It was the first business house to be completed and occupied in the town, and as an evidence of its merit it is standing today, in good repair…all the windows intact with their 10×12 glass the largest to be had when the structure was built…..
On June 16th, four days after their arrival, members of the Boston company and other men in the area met to organize and town and made arrangements to have it surveyed.
In an earlier description, written in 1877, General West reported that their campsite had been “upon the ground now occupied by Fitzpatrick flouring mill.” Today, that spot at 11th and Washington is occupied by the Golden Hotel.
