68 Years Ago
The October 11, 1956 Colorado Transcript announced that Golden’s First Church of Christ, Scientist was dedicating their new building,at 2201 Ford Street (map).
Golden’s Christian Science group had formed in January of 1900. At first, they met in each other’s homes, but the group soon grew and by March of that year they had rented room in the Linder Block. In December, 1904, they rented a building at 709 13th Street (now gone), and in May 1908 they purchased the building. In 1951, they began holding their Sunday services for adults in the Golden Theater at 13th & Washington, while Sunday school services were held in their “main” building (709 13th) next door.
The congregation purchased land at 22nd and Ford in 1951, began building in April of 1953, and held their first services there in October of that year. They paid off their mortgage in just three years, and it was this that inspired the Dedication celebration.
Christian Science groups often maintain reading rooms, where the public is invited to read Christian Science literature as well as an array of periodicals. The Golden congregation began with a reading room in their church building, but for nearly 40 years, they maintained one at 1118 Washington Avenue (now the Red Wagon).
I’m not sure when the congregation moved out of Golden–I think they combined with a group in Lakewood–but their Ford Street building was sold in 1998 and currently houses a law firm.
Many thanks to an anonymous donor for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of October.
