COVID Updates
Colorado has entered Phase 1B.4 of the vaccine distribution which opens eligibility up to those 50 years of age and older, as well as many frontline workers in education, food services, agriculture and those 16 – 49 with one high-risk factor. For a complete list of who is eligible in Phase 1B.4, as well as resources for finding and booking a vaccine appointment, visit www.Jeffco.us/covid-vaccine
Appointments to Get the COVID Vaccine (Eligibility)
State of Colorado’s Find Out Where You Can Get Vaccinated page | Lutheran Medical Center | JCPH Clinic in Arvada (70+ only) | www.vaccinespotter.org/CO/
Jefferson County Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center: 303-239-7000 | State Hotline to answer questions, including location of vaccine providers: 1-877-268-2926. It is staffed 24 hours a day
Golden Testing Sites
Mines COVID Testing | Jeffco Fairgrounds COVID Testing
More Public Health References
School of Mines COVID-19 case page. | Sign up for exposure notifications | CDC | Colorado | Jefferson County | City of Golden
Virtual Events
6-6:55AM Virtual Dynamic Circuit
8:30-9:30AM Virtual Power Training
10:15AM Spanish Story Time with the Library
2-3PM Active Minds Mondays – Italy
3-3:45PM Spring Break Dance Party
4-4:30PM Kids Martial Arts Class
4-5PM Recursos Digitales
5-6PM Young Readers Book Club – Author Visit: Eric Berlin
Golden History Moment
In August of 1945, the United States ended World War II by dropping atomic bombs on Japan. Soon, hostilities were rising between the U.S. and our former ally, Russia. By 1948, the Communists had taken over Czechoslovakia and by 1949, Russia had developed their own atomic bomb. Later that year, Mao Zedong took control of China, and that country also became Communist. In 1950, the United States began developing the much more powerful H-bomb. Senator Joe McCarthy began his communist witch hunts. The Korean War began. The Cold War was on in earnest.
70 Years Ago
The March 29, 1951 Colorado Transcript announced the Federal Government’s plan to build a $45 million “Atom Plant” north of Golden. They did not state that the plant would produce a part used in atomic weapons–that information would have been top secret.
Instead, the editor wrote a piece saying that our ability to harness the atom promised a brilliant future. He offered ironic praise to the Communists for pressuring us into doing atomic research: “In years to come, when we are spinning the world with the atom, and taking it easy–we must give the dictators credit for scaring us into spending all the money and doing all the work that was necessary to make an Atomic Age with its unlimited, inexhaustible, inexpensive power possible.”
Ever pragmatic and ever boosting, the Transcript went on to write of the benefits that would accrue to Golden, including a good highway heading north to the plant. There would be 2,000 jobs during construction, and 1,000 workers needed on a permanent basis after the plant opened. As they had been saying for more than half a century, Golden would need MORE HOUSING to shelter the workers.
The paper reminded us what a natural fit this plant was for Golden, as Coors Porcelain had already been making high-tech porcelain insulators to support the war effort, and the School of Mines was well-versed in working with radioactive materials. They even covered the tourism angle: the CSM Geology Museum had “a splendid collection of radio active materials, conveniently and attractively arranged for public and student inspection.”
They praised Senator “Big Ed” Johnson for bringing home the bacon, reminding readers that the Senator had always been one of Golden’s best friends.
The Rocky Flats plant opened in 1952 and operated until 1989, producing plutonium pits. The pits were shipped to other Federal facilities to be assembled into nuclear weapons. The former production zone is closed to visitors, but the 5,237 acre buffer zone around the former plant is now a National Wildlife Refuge.
Many 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!
