148 Years Ago
The Excelsior Fire and Hose Company will give an excursion to Beaver Brook on Thursday evening next, Aug. 4th. Gilman’s quadrille band will furnish the music for a grand ball in the pavilion.
Colorado Transcript, August 2, 1876
The Colorado Central Railroad, which completed its line from Golden to Black Hawk in 1872, provided an easy and exciting new way to travel into the mountains and enjoy the mountain scenery. The railroads soon established “excursion trains” to cater to the growing tourist trade.
In the 1870s and 1880s, the Beaver Brook Station was a popular destination. Located about 7 miles west of Golden, this was the spot where Beaver Brook tumbled down a steep wall into Clear Creek–thus, visitors were able to enjoy waterfalls as well as the swift mountain stream.
The Beaver Brook Station offered a large pavilion, suitable for hosting dances, picnics, and other group gatherings.
The colored people of Denver, taxing the capacity of four cars, went up over the Colorado Central to Beaver Brook this morning, for a day’s enjoyment.
Colorado Transcript, August 2, 1876
Saturday next is the day fixed for the grand excursion of the farmers and Grangers of this County to Beaver Brook, with their families…The Golden band has been engaged for the occasion, so that those who wish to dance at the pavilion can do so to their hearts content.
Colorado Transcript, August 2, 1876
Moonlight Excursion to Beaver Brook
On next Tuesday evening, June 10, an excursion train will leave the passenger depot for Beaver Brook pavilion, where a grand ball will be given…. Gilman’s celebrated orchestra, the best in the state, will furnish the music. Tickets for round trip and ball–admitting gentleman and lady–$2.
Colorado Transcript, June 4, 1879
Everybody buy a ticket to the G.A.R. Excursion to Beaver Brook on Friday. Plenty of fun, plenty of dancing, plenty of strawberries and ice cream, plenty of girls, plenty of boys, as well as plenty of us old gentlemen.
Colorado Transcript, June 25, 1884.
According to Dan Abbott’s book, Colorado Central Railroad, the Beaver Brook depot and pavilion were removed in 1893.
