This pretty little building used to be Golden’s fire station and city hall. It was built in 1883. That same year, “generous citizens” donated a 1300 pound bell, which was placed in the bell tower to the right of the building.
When the Armistice (end of World War I) was declared on November 11, 1918, the gleeful citizens rang the bell for seven straight hours until finally it cracked–whereupon, it was christened “Golden’s Liberty Bell.” That bell is on display today in front of our current City Hall.
The “City Hall” part of the building consisted of one office behind the two equipment bays. This sufficed because Golden didn’t have a City Manager until after World War II. Most management and administrative work was done by City Council members, while construction and street work was contracted out.
In 1959, Golden citizens voted to fund a new municipal center on 10th Street that would include a fire department, police department, administrative offices, the Golden Pioneer Museum, a recreation center, and an outdoor pool. The new City Hall was dedicated in 1961, and the old one was demolished in December of that year to make room for off-street parking.
In 1995, new public restrooms were constructed where the old Central Station/City Hall had been.
