Virtual Events
8:30-9:25AM Silver Sneakers Classic
10AM Mid-Morning Meditation
10-10:55AM All Levels Yoga
11-11:55AM Silver Sneakers Circuit
3PM Hard Times Writing Workshop
5:30-6:25PM HIIT & Sculpt
6-7PM Qs and Brews Trivia
Real World Events
7:30AM Golden Young Professionals Monthly Membership Meeting @ Golden Visitors Center
8-9AM Golden Merchants Meeting
5-9PM Bike Night @ Avalanche Harley Davidson
6PM Fun Run @ Runners Roost
6-9PM Mini Paint Night @ Golden Game Guild
7:15PM Spirits with Cocktails @ Windy Saddle Café
7PM Parks, Recreation and Museums Advisory Board Meeting @ City Hall
The Parks, Rec, and Museum Board will discuss the Bachman property, the pesticide-free approach to DeLong Park, the new hours for Lubahn Trail, the Open Space Master Plan, and a request by the Public Arts Commission. A copy of the Open Space Master Plan is included in the meeting packet.
Live Music
5PM Nightwolf @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
55PM Bruce Cole @ Wrigley’s
6PM Jonathan Browning Acoustix @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage – outdoor patio)
6PM Pixie & The Partygrass Boys @ New Terrain Brewing
6PM Open Pick Night @ Over Yonder Brewing
7PM Rowdy Johnson @ Columbine Cafe
Golden History Moment
The Pony Express was a short-lived but long-remembered piece of American history.
After the Mormons settled Utah in 1847 and the California Gold Rush began in 1849, the U.S.Postal Service somewhat reluctantly set up overland routes to bring mail between those western outposts and “the United States.”
In 1858, the Postmaster General decided to scale back the overland mail service. That was unfortunate timing for the Pikes Peak Region (that’s us), since our Gold Rush began in late 1858.
The vacuum left by the U.S. Postal Service created an opening for private enterprise, so the Pony Express was established in June of 1860. It was a very expensive undertaking, and very dangerous for the young riders who carried the post. By October of 1861, a transcontinental telegraph had been established between New York and San Francisco. At that time, the Pony Express was discontinued.
George West, who founded the Transcript in 1866, had another newspaper prior to the Civil War. The Western Mountaineer operated for only a year–from December of 1859 to December of 1860.
The life of the Mountaineer overlapped with the life of the Pony Express. Since prompt information is essential for a newspaper, West depended on the news carried by the express service. Between mid-June and December 1860, there were 26 issues of the paper, and 14 of them mentioned the Pony Express.
Indian Outrages in California.
Americans Murdered–Fight with 500 Indians–Defeat of Maj. Ormsby and his Death–Retreat of the Troops–Excitement in California
The Pony Express brings sad news–
Several Americans had been murdered on Carson’s river, while asleep, by the Indians… This outrage led to an organization of whites. The volunteers, numbering one hundred and five men, placed themselves under the command of Major Ormsby, and pushed in pursuit of the Indians….
Western Mountaineer – June 28, 1860
The Indian Outrages
Communication with California Suspended
The following additional particulars of the depredations committed by the Indians in California and Utah, is from the Deseret News, of June 11th:
The anxiously looked for Western Pony Express arrived here yesterday morning about ten o’clock, bringing letters from Diamond Springs and stations this side of Ruby Valley, but nothing from Carson or California….
Western Mountaineer – July 5, 1860
From St. Joseph
A letter brought by the Pony Express to the Platte Crossing and thence by the last Express coach, reached us in four days from St. Joseph. Quick Time.
Western Mountaineer – July 12, 1860
In the end, the Pony Express outlived the Western Mountaineer by a few months. The December 20, 1860 Mountaineer included West’s “Valedictory.” He concluded that Golden wasn’t ready to support a newspaper. Fortunately, he returned after the Civil War and tried again, establishing the Colorado Transcript in December of 1866.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts.
