Coronavirus Update
Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
Jefferson County’s case count page says that as of 3PM yesterday, there have been 2,316 cases in Jefferson County (up from 2,273). There have been 142 deaths (up from 141) and 339 are hospitalized (up from 338). There are 199 known cases in Golden (up from 191).
The Jeffco Public Health website says that the next report will be on Tuesday, May 26th.
The Safer at Home protocol is now in effect. Check the City’s site to learn more about what that entails. Everyone is still requested to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth when leaving the house. City and County fire restrictions are in place. Clear Creek is closed to all recreational activities.
Virtual Golden
3PM #LiveFromTheRose – Lucas Wolf
Real Life Golden
8AM-3PM Tree Limbs, Mulch, and Compost
Today is the final day to drop off your tree limbs at the City drop-off spot (map). While you’re there, you can pick up 3 bags of free compost, and an unlimited amount of mulch. Please bring your own shovels and carrying devices for the mulch. Beginning at 9AM, you can also collect 3 free packets of organic vegetable seeds.
GREAT NEWS! Starting today, Golden Library is offering curbside service by appointment. Did you have some things on hold? Reserve a time, and you can pick them up today!
Golden History Moment
As mentioned yesterday, the Golden Cemetery was started when the City bought 27 acres in 1873. A few years later, the Masons, the Odd Fellows, and the County also bought sections. The Grand Army of the Republic–an organization of Civil War Veterans–bought their own ground within the Cemetery. To this day, that section provides free cemetery plots for veterans.
As the Civil War veterans got older, Memorial Day observances became more and more elaborate. A 1905 Transcript article entitled “Old Boys in Blue Honor Their Dead” described the full panoply.
That year, the downtown buildings were decorated with flags and bunting. Many businesses closed, out of respect for the day. In deference to the wishes of veterans, no games or frivolity were planned.
The day began with a procession of carriages going to the Golden Cemetery. There they were greeted by a squad of active servicemen and a bugler. There was a ceremony, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. The group then visited the grave of every soldier and sailor and laid a wreath and flowers at each one.
That afternoon, they met at the Opera House (now the Ace Hi). Seats had been reserved for the Grand Army veterans, the Women’s Relief Corps (wives and daughters of veterans), public school classes, the “Boys’ Brigade,” and a group of boys from the Industrial School.
The Transcript said that more than 600 seats had been provided and there was standing room only. (I was surprised to learn that the second floor of that building could hold so many.)
Speeches were given and patriotic songs were sung. The President of the School of Mines (Victor Alderson) then spoke of his own patriotic feelings, inspired by the Civil War soldiers he knew as a boy.
After the service, the Boys’ Brigade escorted the group to Clear Creek. There, the Women’s Relief Corps tossed flowers into the water, in memory of dead sailors. This was followed by another rifle salute and Taps.
The Industrial School had its own program that included songs, recitations, readings, band music, and a speaker.
George West, who founded the Colorado Transcript in 1866 and remained its editor for 40 years, was a veteran of the Civil War and very involved in Grand Army of the Republic events. He likely planned many of the Memorial Day ceremonies and almost certainly wrote the article describing them in such detail. George died a year after this Memorial Day, and while the events may have remained splendid, the description of them in the Transcript was never again quite as glowing or enthusiastic.
The Golden Transcript (originally called the Colorado Transcript) has been publishing since 1866. The Golden History Museum has been working on digitizing the historic issues. You’ll find old Transcripts online at coloradohistoricnewspapers.org.
