Month-End Appeal
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Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
JCPHD updates the Coronavirus statistics Monday through Friday at about 3 PM. The next update will be included in Tuesday’s post.
Virtual Golden
6-6:55AM Virtual Dynamic Circuit
9-10AM Virtual Power Training
10:15-11:15AM Cuentacuentos en español / Spanish Story Time with the Library
Real Life Golden
6PM Gentle Yoga in the Yard (map)
for additional info email goldenyogasanctuary@gmail.com
Golden History Moment
Golden had several neighboring towns during the Gold Rush era, including Golden Gate City (at Highway 93 and Golden Golden Gate Canyon), Apex (at the site of the former Heritage Square amusement park), and Mount Vernon (now located within Mathews-Winters Park). Each of these towns were located at the base of a gulch or canyon, and all offered toll roads leading to the mining towns in the mountains.
When the Colorado Central Railroad came to Golden in 1870, the toll roads became largely obsolete. The Railroad offered a much quicker and easier way to transport goods and people into and out of the mountain towns. Within a few years, Mount Vernon, Apex, and Golden Gate City disappeared.
Frontier Justice
The July 25, 1861 Rocky Mountain News included a story involving two of our neighbors–Mount Vernon and Apex. On the 14th of July, 1861, a horse was stolen from Mr. Niswell of Mount Vernon. Citizens gathered to look for the horse, and two days later it was found in Apex, in the possession of a Mr. Love. Love said he had recently purchased the horse from one John Bishop for the sum of $45. He willingly returned the horse to its owner and joined in the hunt for the horse thief.
Mr. Love and Mr. Niswell (the horse’s owner) found the thief in Apex. At first he denied the transaction, then admitted it and refunded most of the $45 to Mr. Love. He blamed his thieving ways on hard times, bad company, and a bad upbringing. He tried to persuade them to let him go, but they arrested him and brought him back to Mount Vernon.
There, the citizens organized a speedy trial with men appointed to serve as judge, prosecutor, defender, and jury members. The jury could not reach a verdict, so the prisoner was to be turned over to the Federal Marshal in Denver.
Two men bound the prisoner, placed him in a wagon, and started for Denver at about 1AM. Upon reaching Apex, they were met by a band of men who seized their prisoner. The jailers continued on their way to Denver, to report on the incident.
The next morning, citizens of Apex discovered a hanged man in a tree on the nearby hogback. A hastily contrived inquest was called. The jury concluded that the man was the horse thief and that death had been caused by hanging. They then buried him and the matter was considered settled.
Thanks to Paul Haseman for finding this story!
