Have I mentioned that the Transcript was traditionally a Democratic newspaper? On this inauguration day, I wondered how they responded to the election of the ultimate Democratic president–Franklin D. Roosevelt. It took me a while to locate the right editions–I had forgotten that inaugurations took place in March back in 1933.
March 2, 1933
I soon determined that inaugurations were less all-consuming at that time. I reviewed the March 2, 1933 Colorado Transcript (right before the March 4th inauguration). The front page included not a single article about national politics.
The lead article discussed Golden’s ongoing search for additional water supplies. E-Days at the School of Mines had attracted 150 visitors. Golden and Arvada High Schools were going to play basketball that night, and the School of Mines was set to name a new athletic coach. There was a substantial placer gold strike near Arvada, which was yielding $1-5 per cubic yard.
The Colorado & Southern Railroad planned to start offering “handcar passenger service” from Golden to Idaho Springs. The service would only be offered when five first class tickets were purchased.
A Russian student at the School of Mines narrowly avoided death on the “South Golden Highway” (now Colfax) when a passing truck loaded with lumber nearly decapitated him. The truck had a long pole projecting out to the side, which crashed into the student’s car and missed him by inches.
An employee of the Golden Mill got a broken rib and a deep cut in his hand when the truck he was driving was hit by an Intermountain (railroad) car at 24th and Jackson. (Sounds like it was the driver’s fault: he drove onto the track without noticing the railroad car bearing down on him.)
Work was beginning on a new coal shaft south of Golden. They expected to go 200 feet deep, produce 150 tons of coal a day , and employ 25 men (exclusively Golden men).
Mr. and Mrs. Williams were asleep in their home at 923 Cheyenne Street when “a mass of flame crept up the side of their frame dwelling.” Fortunately, neighbors spotted the fire and quickly extinguished it with buckets and hoses. It was believed that the fire started when a spark blew from a neighbor’s ash pit.
Candidates had been chosen for a City Council election set to take place the following month.
There was hope that the indoor swimming pool called the Golden Plunge (now located under the floor at the Buffalo Rose) would be opening soon. The business had fallen into the bank’s possession, but several parties were interested in acquiring and reopening it.
The editorial page had a couple of references to the incoming administration, but none of the gushing details about pageantry that we expect today.
March 9, 1933
The week after the inauguration, the front page again discussed the water supply, upcoming city council election, a fire, and high school basketball, but there was one major national event: Roosevelt had declared a bank holiday, and Golden’s Rubey Bank was closed.
The editorial page focused a little more on national issues. Vera West wrote about the bank holiday, which she viewed as the opening salvo in a fight to clean up corruption and unfair business practices. Neil West Kimball speculated that Colorado bank depositors would be permitted to withdraw 5% of their deposits per month. George Kimball wrote:
Since the new national administration took charge a few days ago have you noticed marked improvement in business conditions, weather, the children’s behavior, health, picture shows, your bridge game? If not, it’s time to dig up a lot of new terms for cussing the government. The only means by which you’ll ever get everything arranged just exactly as you want it is to sit back on your haunches and howl.
