82 Years Ago
The May 3, 1934 Colorado Transcript included this announcement:
CAMP GEORGE WEST NEW NAME DESIGNATED FOR RIFLE RANGE
In order to perpetuate the name of an officer who served faithfully and gallantly in the Civil War, commanding an organization of Colorado men, and who played an important part in upbuilding in the heart of the Rocky Mountains the great State of Colorado,and who served as the Adjutant General of the State from 1887 to 1889, the State Rifle Rage near Golden, Colorado, is, effective as of this date, renamed and redesignated CAMP GEORGE WEST and will henceforth be so referred to in all communication and orders of whatsoever nature pertaining to this range.
The property east of Golden, along South Golden Road was private property until 1903. Golden native Neil West Kimball recalled the area as
...wide open space just right for an exciting Sunday holiday. On such an occasion there were horse-drawn caravans, wagons piled high with yelping dogs and their owners, shrieking children of all ages and kegs of Coors beer heading out of town on the South Golden Road.
He added that greyhound racing was popular at the time, and people would gather there to watch the races. The area was later used by a rifle club, which constructed a rifle range and used South Table Mountain as their backdrop.
1933 military drill at Camp George West – Denver Public Library Western History Collection – enlarge
In 1903, the rifle club sold their land to the State, which established the State Rifle Range. It became the home for the Colorado Guard (later renamed Colorado National Guard).
George West was one of Golden’s earliest settlers, arriving here in June of 1859. He established our first newspaper, the Western Mountaineer, but closed it after a year and left to serve as a Captain during the Civil War. After the war, he returned to Golden and started the Colorado Transcript in 1866. During the Plains Indian Wars, he served as Adjutant General of the Colorado Guard.
George West died in 1906, but his grandson Neil (a World War I veteran) later served in the same role–as Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard. During his tenure in that role, the camp was renamed in honor of his grandfather. Since that time, it has been known as “Camp George West.”
The Transcript took familial pride in the name change. After the formal announcement, shown above, they added the following Editor's Note:
George West—pioneer, soldier and editor —hero of one small boy who has grown up to follow in the foot steps of his grandfather. George West served in the Civil War, Neil Kimball in the World War; George West founded the Colorado Transcript, Neil Kimball was its successful editor; George West was Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard from 1887 to 1889—47 years later Neil Kimball occupies the same position. Camp George West will hereafter be the name of the State Rifle Range near Golden. Signing the general order making this change must have given Neil Kimball a great deal of pleasure—as it does those early Golden pioneers who remember and honor George West, their friend and fellow citizen, founder and co-builder of this community.
