The Denver Star was published weekly in Denver from 1888-1963. It served the African American community in Colorado and neighboring states.
I've spent some time perusing old issues of the Star. I was curious to see whether they had anything to say about Golden. The answer was “not a great deal,” but I did learn that in the 19-teens (after Golden got reliable electric streetcar service), African-American groups often came to Golden for social outings.
ORGANIZED GROUP OUTINGS
Planned excursions to Golden were often advertised in the Star. Afterwards, they were mentioned again in the newspaper’s society column.
Announcement:
GET ON BOARD
The Moonlight club’s excursion and dance at Golden Monday, June 23, will be the “thing.” Cars leave Fourteenth and Arapahoe at 8:30 sharp. Round trip 60 cents each, including dance. Webster’s full orchestra.
JOHN CARRIE, JR., Pres
F. D. RATLEY, Mgr
To avoid the rush at the station get your tickets at Ratley’s barber shop, 2712 Welton.
The Denver Star – June 14, 1913
Society Column Recap:
The Moonlight Picnic given by Ratley & Carrie to Golden Monday evening will long be remembered as a very pleasant social affair. There were three comfortably seated cars besides various auto parties who express themselves very well repaid with the evening’s gaiety.
The Denver Star, June 28, 1913
Announcement:
The Emancipation Day Celebration and the sixth annual outing of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Club will be held at Golden Opera House, Golden, Colo., Aug. 4th. Watch the Star for further particulars.
The Denver Star – July 11, 1914
Society Column Recaps:
Not even the threatening weather, nor the rain itself dampened the ardor and the blazing enthusiasm so copiously furnished upon the sixth annual outing and the celebration of the Emancipation day, August 4th, held at Golden by the Rocky Mountain Athletic club. The crowd on the Inter-Mountain cars sang songs, gave yells, and witty jokes were in abundance…. The best of order was maintained, not a cross word spoken.
The Denver Star – August 15, 1914
THE QUEEN CITY BAN EXCURSION
The Queen City Band, which gave an excursion to Golden last Monday had one of the best times in the way of pleasure every witnessed by any picnic party. Mr. Robert Phynix was responsible for the great amount of the joy and restful recreation.
The Denver Star – July 10, 1915
Sometimes the outings were also covered in the Colorado Transcript‘s society column:
A number of the elite of Denver’s colored population held a dancing party at the opera house on Monday afternoon and evening. They certainly must enjoy dancing for they kept at it about eight hours steady.
Colorado Transcript – July 8, 1915
PRIVATE EXCURSIONS
The Star‘s society column often mentioned visitors who were brought to Golden for a day of hiking and picnicking in the mountains:
After the arrival of Mrs. E. Craig and Miss Julia Robinson of Kansas City, Kans, Mrs.Holloway of Franklin street, gave a picnic to Golden in their honor…. The guests spent the day in the mountains of Golden and visited Lakeside in the evening, making one day full of complete joy.
The Denver Star, July 19, 1913
Mr. and Mrs. Artie Belle of Kansas City, Mo., who are visiting Mrs. Davis, 2932 Stout and Miss Margaret Le Noir spent Sunday in Golden, taking in the sights of Castle Rock and Lookout mountain.
The Denver Star – August 29, 1914
HAS A GOOD TIME
Mrs. Ella Danforth, formerly of Denver but now of Los Angeles, California, surprised her many friends with a ten day visited. She was entertained by fishing trips to Golden, beefsteak fries in the mountains and house parties.
The Denver Star – May 29, 1937
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!
