WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GOLDEN TODAY?
6-6:55AM Cardio Lift Interval (Virtual)
8-8:55AM Tai Chi (Virtual)
8:30-9:30AM Power Training (Virtual)
9AM Golden Walks – Wednesday Morning Celebrating Life @ Golden Library
9:30-11AM The Economic Impact of Cultural Vibrancy @ Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
Join the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) to learn the many ways art is smart for business! Co-hosted by the Golden and West Metro Chambers. Light breakfast will be served. Learn more and register for this free event HERE.
10-10:55AM All Levels Yoga (Virtual)
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
1-3PM Create a Website with Google Sites @ Golden Library
3-5PM Hard Times Writing Workshop (Virtual)
5-8PM Backstage Party @ Avalanche Harley Davidson
5-8PM Après Wednesday @ Golden Mill
Break out your Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts & join us for a luau ski party $30 wax + tune and a beer Giveaways & Photo booth Speciality Cocktails DJ Matt Cassidy Sponsored by Proteus Snowboards & New Belgium Brewing. Happy Hour On Drinks All Day Wednesday. Live Music from 5 – 8 PM. $1 per pint of New Belgium Fat Tire will be donated back to Protect Our Winters. Show us your ski pass and get a free pour of Fat Tire from 5-8PM.
6:30PM Trivia Night @ Over Yonder
SEE THE COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
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LIVE MUSIC
4-8PM Chrispy @ Mountain Toad
5-8PM DJ Matt Cassidy @ Golden Mill
6-9PM Chance Gallagher @ Miners Saloon
6PM Live Music @ Rock Rest Lodge
GOLDEN HISTORY MOMENT
For many years, the Golden Fire Department was not only staffed entirely by volunteers, they also had to raise funds to buy their firefighting equipment. Generally they did this by selling tickets to dances hosted by the firefighters.
During the Depression, the Loveland Hose Company (one of three firefighting companies) came up with the perfect fund-raiser for the times: Penny Night. At this event, everything cost 1 cent: admission, the games, sandwiches, coffee, and dances. This was an event that most community members could afford.
Merchants donated prizes, and there were so many that in 1933 they gave away a prize a minute for the duration of the event. The grand prize was a big ham.
The first Penny Night took place in 1933. It attracted approximately 500 people, and 75 couples stayed for the dance. The event was so successful that they repeated it in 1934, ’35, ’36, ’38, ’40, ’41, and ’42. Most years, the newspaper did not report on the amount collected, but the 1935 Night cleared 7500 pennies ($75).
Penny Night was so popular that they always exceeded the capacity of the Loveland Fire House (apparently they didn’t have fire codes at the time). In 1940 and again in 1941, they moved the event to the Golden Plunge Recreation Center (now the Buffalo Rose), but the prices had gone up by then. Admission to attend the dance was 11 cents for ladies and 41 cents for gentlemen.
The final Penny Night was held on April 25, 1942. They moved back to the Loveland Station that year. World War II had started by then, and the Transcript commented that pennies were now being used to buy defense stamps and war bonds, but if you have a few strays, bring them to Penny Night.
The Transcript doesn’t explain why Penny Night ended, but I would speculate that the fire department just didn’t have the manpower to run it. Many of the firefighters were probably fighting overseas. In any case, it was the perfect fund-raiser for the Depression years–a great way to raise both money and spirits in the community.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
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JANUARY SPONSORS: Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Golden History Museum, Golden Super Cruise, Miners Alley Playhouse, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Joy and Jack Brandt, Tom Reiley, Simon Maybury, ML Richardson, and Steve Hoppin
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Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Golden Community Garden, Carol & Doug Harwood, Jennings & Litz, Bill Fisher, Brian Quarnstrom, Casey & Gina Brown, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Robert Storrs, Karen Smith, Sandy Curran, Paul Haseman, Michele Sannes, Kathy Smith, Crystal Culbert, Pat Madison, Donna Anderson, Ann Pattison, Carol & Don Cameron, Tom Hughes, Emeline Paulson, Susan Gray, David Smith, Karen Oxman, Laura King & Scott Wilson, Bill Sedgeley, Mariane Erickson, Carol Abel, Dot & Eric Brownson, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Deb Goeldner, Rosemary Coffman, Jim & LouAnne Dale, Francine Butler, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, John & Andi Pearson, Chris Ball, Tom Hoffman, Patrick & Lisa Vitry, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Lora Haimes, Nancy & Carlos Bernal, and Stephanie Painter, Holly Thomas, and Julie Bartos & Brad Miller
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