57 Years Ago
The November 7, 1968 Colorado Transcript announced the upcoming dedication ceremony for the bell at the Baptist Church.
The article included the bell’s interesting history. Golden’s original Baptist church was built in 1863 at 12th and Jackson Streets. In 1868, town father W.A.H. Loveland offered to donate a bell if the congregation would build a bell tower. They gratefully accepted his proposal, so Loveland ordered the bell.
At the time, the railroad stopped at Omaha Nebraska, so Loveland hired teamster C.W. Burbridge to drive a team of oxen to Omaha to collect the bell and bring it to Golden.
After having crossed the plains about halfway, he was attacked by a band of roving Indians. Burbridge realized his small party was outnumbered and to engage in a fight would be foolish. He greeted them in a friendly manner and the Indians agreed not to harm anyone. They took his relief ox and after they had butchered it, gave him a generous portion. Without further molestation, they permitted his party to continue their journey. Colorado Transcript – November 7, 1968
The bell tower was completed in May of 1868, and the town celebrated. The bell was used, not only for calls to worship, but for fire alarms and other public alerts.
In 1961, the Baptists built a new church at 1805 Washington (map). A new outdoor bell “tower,” consisting of three crosses, was completed and dedicated in 1968. The bell still hangs there, a reminder of Golden’s earliest days.
