111 Years Ago
The November 13, 1913 Colorado Transcript reprinted an article from the Denver Post. It began as follows:
HOTEL DENNIS SOON TO OPEN
Hoboes, attention!
Nice winter quarters at Hotel Dennis, Golden, Colo.
Beautiful mountain scenery. College town. Hot and cold water in every room, spray baths, electric lights and all modern conveniences. Hotel cost $25,000 and will be ready for occupancy about the middle of this month. Joseph Dennis, manager.
The article was describing the new Jefferson County jail. Joseph Dennis was the County Sheriff. It went on to say that the building was two stories high and looked like the residence of a millionaire. It contained 24 cells, including departments for women, children, and the insane. It had a conference room for client-attorney meetings. It also included an apartment for the sheriff and his family.
The old jail was in the basement of the courthouse and was” dark and poorly ventilated.” The sheriff noticed that the longer prisoners remained in that jail, the surlier they became. He had designed the new jail in all white–white walls, ceiling, bedding, and bars. He thought the white would purify their minds.
The Denver Post opined that hoboes looking for winter quarters might forego the Denver jail in favor of the lovely new accommodations in Golden.
Thank you to Wendy Weiman for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of November.
