Coronavirus/COVID-19
Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
Here’s a summary of changes over the past week. The first stats for this week will be posted at about 4PM this afternoon on Jeffco Public Health’s Case Summary Page.
Cases in Jeffco: +1417
Oct 23rd: 7796 | Oct 30th: 9213
Deaths in Jeffco: +11
Oct 23rd: 307 | Oct 30th: 318
Ever Hospitalized in Jeffco: +55
Oct 23rd: 674 | Oct 30th: 729
Recovered in Jeffco: +780
Oct 23rd: 6448 | Oct 30th: 7228
Known Cases in Golden: +41
Oct 23rd: 268 | Oct 30th: 309
School of Mines COVID-19 case page. | Masks are required. | City and County fire restrictions are in place. | Sign up for exposure notifications.
Virtual Golden
6-6:55AM Virtual Dynamic Circuit
9-10AM Virtual Power Training
10:15AM Spanish Story Time with the Library
6:30PM Historic Preservation Board Meeting
The Historic Preservation Board will consider providing a “Certificate of Appropriateness” for a two-story addition to 515 14th Street (map). This home is located within the East Street Historic District, but is considered a noncontributing structure. They will also be asked to support a grant application for a Native American Ethnographic Study. For more information, see the meeting packet….
Real World Golden
8AM-5PM In-person Voting @ Golden City Hall
Ballots were mailed in October and many of you have already dropped yours off in ballot drop boxes around the county.
If you have been waiting to vote in-person, you may do so at Golden City Hall, 911 10th Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2 or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.
If you prefer to drop off your ballot and haven’t done so yet, there are numerous ballot drop boxes in Jefferson County, including the 24-Hour Ballot Drop Box located at Golden City Hall, 911 10th Street. Your ballot MUST be received by 7 p.m. on November 3. For other locations, visit jeffco.us/3907/Find-Voting-Locations.
The Buffalo Rose is hosting an all-day fundraiser to support the Grand Foundation Wildfire Emergency Fund. You can dine in or carry out–either way, 100% of their net sales will support victims of the East Troublesome Fire. See the menu.
Golden History Moment
Lookout Mountain Road – More Than You Think – Part 1
by Paul Haseman
“Cement Bill” Williams ran a contracting business in Golden and in 1910 envisioned a road up Lookout Mountain. His enthusiasm did not attract investors; however, the Legislature passed an act designating the road as then State Highway 27. Williams quickly learned that not all legislation comes with funding. So, he went ahead on his own to survey the route in 1911 placing markers on trees and rocks. He then built a 2-foot wide concrete trail up the mountain with small donations from Goldenites, Portland cement from millionaire Charles Boettcher and $1000 from Adolph Coors. Having proven the road’s feasibility, the State Highway Commission engineer finally gave the route his blessing.
Williams again sought funding. The Legislature appropriated $15,000 expecting the Jefferson County to match that amount as its traditional local share. No such luck. The County said “no.” Meanwhile, the Denver Mountain Park System acquired its first park, Genesee Park, in 1913 but needed access. They considered a road up Mt. Vernon Canyon (now I-70), but opted for Williams’ route and donated $7500. The City of Denver donated another $7500. With this $30,000, work commenced along the existing 2-foot trail.
Blasting and digging was hard work and most workers did not stay long. Desperate for labor, a coincidence of events came to the rescue. Denver Sheriff Nesbit had seized Buffalo Bills Wild West Show in mid-July in view of attachment suits. So, many of the stranded show workers with few options went to work for Superintendent Williams.
By August the road up the mountain was completed. The Transcript reported that on Sunday, 26 August, “more than sixty machines traveled over this new boulevard.” But this vista-filled road immediately had (and still has) a speeding problem. Less than a month after it opened, the Mountain Park Board met and fixed the speed limit at 10mph.
The route went to Denver’s new Lookout Mountain Park and it went further. It traversed along the ridge to fulfill its purpose as the north entrance to the Lariat Trail by linking with Genesee Park, which in 1914 was stocked with buffalo from Yellowstone National Park. The park and grand vista of the Rockies on cresting Genesee Mountain is well known to I-70 and Lariat Trail travelers.
To be continued…
