150 Years Ago

The frenetic pace of Golden’s holiday celebrations is finally slowing down. Tomorrow, I’ll post the schedule of Christmas church services, but today I’m returning to one of my favorite pastimes of reading old Colorado Transcripts. I checked the issue from 150 years ago today–December 23, 1868. This ad on the front page caught my attention:

NEW STORE!!!
Clark & Doolittle,
Wholesale and Retail Detail in
all kinds of
Family Groceries,
and
RANCH PRODUCE,
CIGARS, TOBACCO & LIQUORS
City and Country Trade Solicited.
Foods sold as low as they can be bought
in Denver City
For Greenbacks
or
COUNTRY PRODUCE
Remember the place
ON WASHINGTON AVENUE
Golden City.

I mention that ad because one of my favorite old pictures of Washington Avenue shows that store, with Castle Rock in the background.

Other advertisements in that issue promote Edward Berthoud–Civil Engineer, a new blacksmith shop at the corner of Garrison (now 10th Street) and Washington; the Overland House Hotel (now the Buffalo Rose), and Barnes’ Premium Flouring Mills (now the Golden Mill). The Golden Paper Mill, which operated at 9th & Cheyenne, offered to sell wrapping paper.

The Astor House, Seth Lake, Proprietor advertised that This is an entirely new and commodious stone hotel, finished and furnished in good style, with entirely new furniture, bedding, etc., and the traveling public will find it a pleasant and desirable place of entertainment. Suite of rooms, suitable for families if desirable. Terms Reasonable.

People were excited about the upcoming Christmas Ball, which would be held at “Harrison’s Hall” (the building that now includes Creekside Jewelers).

In national news, the paper reported on President Andrew Johnson’s annual address to congress.

The Golden Transcript (originally called the Colorado Transcript) has been publishing since 1866. The Golden History Museum has been working on digitizing the old issues, and they’re currently up to June of 1948. They expect to post digitized issues up through 1961 early next year. You’ll find old Transcripts online at coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. You can contribute to the cost of the digitizing project with a donation to the Golden History Museum.