Have you checked out our new, temporary art gallery downtown? The Golden Chamber and the City’s tourism program have decorated the fences that enclose the downtown businesses with some very pretty artwork.
Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
JCPHD updates these numbers Monday through Friday at about 3 PM. Here’s the most recent Coronavirus report from Jeffco Public Health’s Case Summary Page:
Cases in Jeffco – Mon: 5454 | Tues: 5499
Deaths in Jeffco – Mon: 247 | Tues: 248
Ever Hospitalized in Jeffco – Mon: 564 | Tues: 569 (currently 23)
Recovered – Mon: 4813 | Tues: 4845
Known Cases in Golden – Mon: 198 | Tues: 204
School of Mines COVID-19 case page. | Masks are required. | City and County fire restrictions are in place. | CLEAR CREEK IS NOW OPEN.
9-10AM Virtual Power Training
10:15-11:15AM Let’s Dance with the Library
6PM Community Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting
6-8PM Wednesday Watch Party with the Library: The Big Trees
6-7:30PM A Virgin Soil Epidemic – the 1918-1920 Flu
6PM South Golden Neighborhood Meeting to Discuss Heart of Golden (changes to the Clear Creek Corridor) – You must register for the event.
The Sustainability Board recently met with with several Golden restaurant owners to discuss sustainability upgrades that might help them get through the current hard times. They will discuss what they learned tonight. They will also discuss statewide and regional electronic vehicle programs. Other current business includes: Building energy codes working group update | Youth grants program | Energy efficiency and waste diversion rebates | Sustainability Metrics | Colorado Communities For Climate Action (CC4CA) update | Potential Board retreat meeting dates | Citizen Sustainability Task Forces participating online at GuidingGolden.com | Staff & Board Updates.
The Golden History Museum is hosting an online lecture tonight about the 1918-1920 Influenza Epidemic, during which 675,000 Americans died. Register here for tickets.
9-10:15AM Golden Walks
3-4:30PM Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic
6PM Vinyasa Yoga in Lions Park with Gabriela Ferrat Yoga
William Sarell came to Golden with his parents when he was 16 years old. He ran a hardware store in Golden for more than 60 years–first in partnership with his father, and later with his son Raymond.
He worked until he was 91, and for many years enjoyed his status as the elder statesman of Washington Avenue. In his later years, he often gave interviews to the Transcript, highlighting the facts that he was here when Calvary Church was built and he worked as a page for the Territorial Legislature.
Sarell Hardware operated in several locations through its years in business–first in a small shop on 12th Street, moving to the Harrison Block (where Creekside Jewelers are now) in 1878. The following year, they moved to the Opera House (now the Ace Hi Tavern). Sometime before 1901, the constructed a building at 13th and Ford. In 1908 they bought 1118 Washington (now the north side of the Old Capitol Grill). Sometime before 1937, they bought their final home at 1112 Washington Avenue.
Their first advertisement appeared in 1866. At that time, they specialized in producing custom metalwork. They next added stoves, tinware, and nails. Over the years, the types of inventory grew–from churns to tools to step ladders, cutlery, roofing supplies, plumbing supplies, and garden supplies, and garden seeds.
William died in 1944 at the age of 93. Unfortunately, his son (and longtime partner) died 2 weeks later, bringing the 60 year old family business to an abrupt halt. All three generations of Sarell Hardware owners are buried in the Golden cemetery.
Today is the Autumnal Equinox. That means that we have equal amounts of day and night. Welcome to fall!
Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
JCPHD updates these numbers Monday through Friday at about 3 PM. Here’s the most recent Coronavirus report from Jeffco Public Health’s Case Summary Page:
Cases in Jeffco – Fri: 5310 | Mon: 5454
Deaths in Jeffco – Fri: 247 | Mon: 247
Ever Hospitalized in Jeffco – Fri: 555 | Mon: 564 (currently 20)
Recovered – Fri: 4755 | Mon: 4813
Known Cases in Golden – Fri: 198 | Mon: 198
School of Mines COVID-19 case page. | Masks are required. | City and County fire restrictions are in place. | CLEAR CREEK IS NOW OPEN.
10:15-11:15AM Baby & Toddler Time with the Library
6PM Mobility & Transportation Advisory Board
MTAB will discuss traffic calming and which projects to prioritize.
8-9AM Coffee Connections with the Golden Chamber
The Chamber will meet in person on the Visitors Center patio. “Let’s have coffee with… Dr. Jordanna Quinn, KORE Regenerative Medicine.” Note that they’re starting 30 minutes later than usual this month.
Live Music:
5:30PM Todd Scheaffer & Chris Thompson at Coda Brewing
Waiting for the Train – Part 2
Golden-ites were filled with anticipation of the first train of the Colorado Central, scheduled to arrive on September 23rd, 1870. Unfortunately, progress was delayed. A massive rainstorm began on the 21st and continued into the 22nd, making work on the railroad line impossible. The weather cleared on the 23rd and the first train arrived & was celebrated on the 26th. (I’ll tell you about that on Saturday.)
The Colorado Central was already bringing changes to Golden. A new commission house had opened near the depot, where goods could be stored, shipped, traded, or sold. The Colorado Stage Company, which had been offering stagecoach service from Denver to the mountain towns, was moving from Denver to Golden. It was assumed that travelers would now take the first part of the trip by train, then transfer to stagecoach in Golden.
In anticipation of growth to come, the Colorado Transcript had just finished its building on Washington Avenue, and a new hotel was built at 13th and Arapahoe. The Doolittle livery company had built a new stone stable and had added “a splendid barouche” to their line of carriages and buggies. In a nod to the times, the business was renamed “Colorado Central Livery Stable.” Likewise, a new meat market was named “C. C. R. R. Meat Market” (Colorado Central Railroad).
The Transcript reminded ladies that in a few days, they would be able to take the train to Denver to shop. At the same time, they advertised, “NO MORE GOING TO DENVER TO SAVE MONEY!” because Golden merchants would be able to import their merchandise so easily and economically, ensuring competitive prices.
Part of the reason the town’s founders were so anxious to have a railroad was the town’s declining population. The 1860 census, at the height of the gold rush, had found 1,014 residents in Golden. The 1870 census counted only 587. Without a significant economic boost (such as a railroad), Golden would be well on its way to oblivion. The railroad did the job; by 1880, we had a population of 2,730.
The railroad brought immediate benefits to Golden, but the primary reason for the railroad was to bring rail service to the mining towns (Blackhawk, Central City, Idaho Springs, and Georgetown). As soon as the tracks reached Golden, construction continued westward into Clear Creek Canyon.
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!
Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
JCPHD updates the Coronavirus statistics Monday through Friday at about 3 PM. The next update will be included in Tuesday’s post.
6-6:55AM Virtual Dynamic Circuit
9-10AM Virtual Power Training
10:15-11:15AM Cuentacuentos en español / Spanish Story Time with the Library
6:30PM Downtown Development Authority Meeting – Virtual
The DDA will discuss their ongoing partnership with Miners Alley Playhouse. In normal times, the theater brings hundreds of patrons into Golden’s downtown every month. Those patrons shop and dine in Golden, so the theater is quite beneficial to the downtown business community. Miners Alley has been one of the hardest-hit downtown businesses/cultural organizations, because people are just not comfortable sitting in a room, close to other people. The theater had to cancel most of the plays scheduled for 2020, but they were able to conduct outdoor summer theater camp in one of the city parks, are offering on-demand children’s theater, and have been hosting live streaming musical performances through their “Quarantine Cabaret” series.
Tourism was down significantly this summer because of the pandemic, and our businesses are suffering. The City’s tourism program plans to redirect their efforts to reach local residents, and will request $15,000 to do extra marketing this fall.
The board will discuss a proposed new grant program that would enable downtown businesses to apply for up to $2,000 of a total pool of $150,000. The funds would be used to help offset pandemic-related expenses.
The DDA, as a pilot program, purchased a few panels of more attractive fencing for use by the downtown businesses. This is part of the effort to help the businesses operate outside (more corona-friendly). The City is looking at a larger-scale plan to help the businesses expand outside even after the pandemic, so the DDA will probably pause their pilot program for now, to see what the City comes up with.
A DDA and GURA subcommittee will meet next week to discuss two proposals for the Astor House and a possible project to “above ground” Kinney Run in the Ford/Jackson corridor. Kinney Run, a natural stream, was routed into culverts and buried in the 1950s when Jackson Street was built. The subcommittee will discuss whether to spend the $1.8 million legacy fund on any of these projects.
Staff will report on plans to hang overhead lighting in Miners Alley, and to add some new murals downtown.
The City, the Chamber, the Library, and many Golden businesses are working on plans to celebrate Olde Golden Christmas in a virus-safe way this year, and staff will report on those plans.
6PM Gentle Yoga in the Yard (map)
for additional info email goldenyogasanctuary@gmail.com
150 Years Ago
The September 21, 1870 Colorado Transcript shows that excitement was building to a fever pitch in anticipation of the Colorado Central Railroad reaching Golden. For weeks, the newspaper had been reporting on the progress of the line as it was built between Denver and Golden, and by the 21st it was nearly within shouting distance.
The grand celebration was scheduled for Friday the 23rd. It would include a free dinner, free dance, and free rides to Denver and back. A display of fireworks was promised, as well as a bonfire on “Table Rock” (castle rock) throughout the evening. The bonfire was intended to serve as a beacon to settlers throughout the region, to remind them that Golden was celebrating.
“By request of the ladies, the dance at the depot will be a calico ball.” I had to research that term. In eastern, more established cities, a “calico ball” meant that wealthy ladies would wear a dress made of calico–a sturdy, inexpensive fabric made of cotton–rather than an evening gown. The next day they were expected to donate the dress to charity. In a frontier town such as Golden, I suspect the term meant that the ball would be a non-dressy affair, where wearing calico was acceptable.
It was clear that the planners meant to keep the event respectable: “No liquor will be allowed to be sold on the grounds, but parties desiring to sell fruits and refreshments will be welcome to do so. An ample police force has been provided and all the improper characters will be cared for and all rowdyism suppressed.”
Many thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and many thanks to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!