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Hogback Update, Botanical Field Trip, Sunday at the Quilt Museum, and Sunday Swing

Golden Eye Candy – Robert Saieg – Rising Creek and Increasing Turbidity – enlarge

Real World Events

8:30AM Elks Soccer Shoot @ Denver Kickers Sport Club
9AM Keg Konditioning @ Golden Mill
9:30-11:30AM Full Walking Tour @ Dinosaur Ridge
10AM-3PM Brunch at the Rose @ Buffalo Rose
11AM-2PM Wild West Pub Crawl @ Golden City Brewery
11:30AM-12:30PM Yogi Book Club @ Pranatonic

12-5PM Learn About Local Mine Expansion
Cannonball Creek Brewing has partnered with Protect the Hogback to bring awareness of potential mine expansion. More information….

1-4PM Teen Pride Party @ Golden Library

Schweich Hill – photo courtesy of the Stewards of Golden Open Space

1-3PM Botanical Field Trip @ Norman D. Memorial Park, 698 N. Ford Street (map)

Our very own Tom Schweich is leading a field trip today to see our very own Schweich Hill Open Space!

Schweich Hill is a small (4 acre) City of Golden-owned parcel that was deeded to the city in 1993 as part of the surrounding developments. The city has no current plans for this parcel. An area of about 1.5 acres in the center of the parcel contains a somewhat intact native mixed-grass prairie. The current plant list shows there are 133 species of plants growing here, 86 of which are native to Colorado. This field trip is designed for anyone interested in seeing this small open space and learning about the native plants here.

Difficulty (scale 1=easiest to 5=hardest): 1-2, short distance, one small hill to climb.

Distance: About 0.7 mile on city sidewalks and well-established social trails.

Hazards: Possibility of rattlesnake and toxic plants such as poison ivy.

What to bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes.

2-4PM Sunday at the Museum – Ancient Inspiration for Patchwork Patterns @ Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
4-6PM Wild West Walking Tour @ Golden Visitors Center


Live Music

11AM-2PM Silent Bear @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
2PM – Seekarlplay:SKP @ Rock Rest Lodge
3PM Goodspeed @ Wrigley’s
4-7PM Keith Wren @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
4PM Derek Dames Ohl @ Over Yonder

5-7:30PM Sunday Swing Supper Club with The Flatirons Jazz Orchestra @ Buffalo Rose
8PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern


Golden History Moment

Second story windows in the Astor House – enlarge

155 Years Ago
The June 12, 1867 Colorado Transcript mentioned the Astor House, which was under construction at that time.

…a fine stone hotel, fifty feet front, on Second street, has already reached the second story windows, and the work is being pushed with commendable and characteristic energy by the proprietor, Judge Lake. He expects to have it ready for occupancy by the middle of July.

Brickwork and Woodwork – ready for a refresh – enlarge

I had a chance to tour the Astor House last week, as it stands ready for its biggest restoration project to date. Foothills Art Center is about to turn the old hotel and boarding house into an art museum. In doing so, they’ll be restoring woodwork, tuckpointing brickwork, and installing modern, energy-efficient HVAC equipment.

Ephemeral walls – enlarge

The building’s current, stripped-down condition reveals a lot of its 155 year history. During the building’s many years as a boarding house, the interior space was partitioned and re-partitioned several times. (In fact, the first floor room that many of us remember as a dining room was serving as 2 bedrooms when the City acquired the building in the early 1970s.) Remnants of some of those partitions are now visible.

Floors of different ages and heights – enlarge

The various remodels also resulted in floors that change height from room to room. The contractors plan to relay the boards to give the floor a consistent level (which is an A.D.A. requirement).

Charred roofing – enlarge

A look up in the attic reveals another interesting glimpse of the past. A 1908 fire burned a significant part of the roof. Evidently the roofers decided that some of the charred boards were still usable.

I’ll continue this forensic walk through the Astor House tomorrow.


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!

Highlights