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 were 2,028 cases in Jefferson County (up from 1,980). There have been 118 deaths (up from 108) and 323 are hospitalized (up from 322). There are 163 known cases in Golden (up from 154).
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
9AM Walk With a Geologist Guided Walking Tour at Dinosaur Ridge
3PM Live at the Rose: Austin Williams & the Storytellers
A Golden History Moment
The September 17, 1879 Colorado Transcript included a small news item titled “LOST OR MURDERED – R.B. Hayward Missing Since Wednesday Last.” Reuben Hayward had a small house in Golden and a ranch near Evergreen. He made his living as a teamster. On the afternoon of September 10, 1879, two men arrived at his ranch and asked him to drive them to the Rooney Ranch. Mr. Hayward agreed. He was last seen, along with the two men, at the Mt. Vernon toll gate (near today’s Buffalo Overlook).
It was later determined that the men had strangled Mr. Hayward somewhere between that point and Golden, and stuffed his body in a culvert. They then stole his horses and wagon.
Mr. Hayward’s body was found in early October, and detectives were sent in search of the two murderers. Governor Pitkin offered a $1000 reward for their capture and return. They were found, brought to Golden, and jailed in the basement of the Jefferson County courthouse. The December 10, 1879 Colorado Transcript reported that the two alleged murderers were in iron shackles in separate cells. There they were to remain until a grand jury met in April. The paper reported that there was “much desultory talk of lynching them,” but they remained unmolested in the jail for two weeks.
On Saturday night, December 27th, the moon was full as a group of about 35 men on horseback and about as many on foot, plus a wagon containing sledge hammers, chisels, crowbars, etc. gathered at the jail. The men on foot stood guard in the surrounding streets and alleys. Some of the horsemen held the guard, jailer, and janitor at bay with guns while others employed the tools to break the locks on the doors, the cells, and the shackles.
The two men were led “down the bluff to a bridge of the Golden and South Platte railroad, some 300 yards to the southeast, but in full view of the courthouse.” The newspaper story goes into some detail, but in short, they were hanged from the bridge. The executioners stayed on site for half an hour to ensure the men were dead, then they rode to the Hayward family residence on Ford Street, fired their revolvers in the air, and cried with one voice “Hayward is avenged.” They they galloped away.
An inquest was held on the 28th of December and the Coroner and his jury concluded that the men were “Illegally Hanged.” None of the lynch mob was ever identified and there seemed to be little interest in tracking them down. The paper, by that time, had dropped the word “alleged” and referred to the two hanged men as “The Hayward Murderers.”
Local historian Richard Gardner identifies this tiny house–at 2318 Ford Street (map)–as the Hayward family home. It is scheduled to be demolished soon, to make way for a Jefferson County Housing Authority project, so look while you can!
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.
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