152 Years Ago
Golden’s previous burying ground was on a hill north of downtown. It was called Cemetery Hill at that time, and is now Goldco Circle (map). The site was never formally laid out, so it was a haphazard kind of cemetery. It was also difficult to access: the hill was too steep for a wagon, and it was hard work for pall bearers to carry a coffin up the slope. These and other concerns were detailed in a letter sent to the Colorado Transcript editor, which appeared in the November 13, 1872 edition.
EDITOR TRANSCRIPT: I have been not a little surprised to see the apathy and cold indifference manifested on the part of the citizens of this place with regard to proper burial grounds. It is a fact remarked by strangers as well as by many citizens that the present place for interring the dead is a shame, if not a disgrace to the place. The graves are strewn around promiscuously without order or system, and beside, the grounds can never be ornamented, as water cannot be gotten upon them. And still further, the grounds belong to private individuals, and every one who inters upon these grounds is a trespasser, and will doubtless sooner or later have to negotiate for the land or remove the dead.
The letter went on to urge the town to buy some more suitable property to establish an official, permanent cemetery.
The town did buy land for that purpose the following year. The original 27 acres of land for the Golden Cemetery was purchased on May 27, 1873 for $425.
Many thanks to an anonymous donor for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of October.
