Coronavirus Update
Public Health References
CDC * Colorado * Jefferson County * City of Golden
Jefferson County’s case count page says that as of 3:30PM yesterday, there were 1,263 cases in Jefferson County (up from 1,222). There have been 61 deaths (unchanged) and 268 are hospitalized (up from 264). There are 98 known cases in Golden (up from 95).
Jefferson County has extended our Stay-at-Home order through May 8th. Everyone is asked 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
PSA: It’s Sunday.
The following Golden churches have information about virtual services and/or sermons on their websites. If your Golden church/mosque/temple is providing online worship, please let us know, and we will add you.
Calvary Episcopal Church
Golden Presbyterian
Faith Lutheran Church
First United Methodist Church
First Presbyterian Church
Flatirons Community Church
Hillside Community Church
Jefferson Unitarian Church
Rockland Community Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Golden History Moment
When I asked readers for suggestions on history subjects, one request was, “past uses of North Table Mountain.” I searched through 150 years of Colorado Transcripts to find the answers, and can say that the uses have not been many or varied.
The first business I found was ranching. An 1868 Transcript said the whole of the top of North Table Mountain was a stock ranch. “They have splendid feed, plenty of pure spring water, and altogether one of the best stock ranches in the country.” Later years describe multiple ranches on both the top and the slopes of the mountain. The east and north sides of the mountain supported small farms and orchards.
In 1882 there was a brief flurry of excitement as traces of silver and gold ore were discovered, but the nascent mines quickly played out.
In the 1890s, Henry Koch established Table Mountain Park (later renamed “Cliff Springs”). The was located near where the Railroad Museum is now. The park offered a number of pavilions, food and drink, a bowling alley, dancing hall, and target shooting.
There were many references over the years to the plentiful water available on North Table Mountains. Natural springs abounded. In fact, at one point people were discussing the feasibility of creating a sort of reservoir on the south side of the mountain. The plan was to drill a shaft down through the mountain and let it hold water until needed. It would be tapped as needed from the bottom of the shaft, at the base of the mountain.
Possibly because of that high water content, the sides of the mountain had a tendency to slip down. Since the railroad ran along the base of the mountain, this slippage caused a recurring problem. Crews of men frequently needed to fend off the mud and rocks and at least once, the tracks had to be moved farther from the mountain.
Beginning in about 1900, there were stone quarries, first on the southeast corner of the mountain and later on the west side, near Highway 93.
In 1922 (during Prohibition), the county sheriff discovered an illicit brewery. The brewer stated that he made about 45 bottles of beer every week, but said it was all for personal use. In 1939, the new History Museum reported having a mold for making counterfeit silver dollars, which had been found on North Table Mountain.
In 1939, a man who was described as the sole rancher on North Table Mountain (and a convicted murderer), shot at three local boys who were hunting on the mountain (and hit two of them).
North Table Mountain’s most lasting industry has been real estate sales. After World War II, Golden had a housing explosion. The Plateau Heights subdivision was laid out in 1956. The North Table Mountain subdivision followed in 1961, North Golden Edge in 1964, and several others, including Mesa Meadows, followed.
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.
