Historically Jeffco 1988 Summer

Summer rg88

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PUBLISHED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION

Volume I, Number I, Summer Ig88 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

ISSUE ONE SUMMER 1988 By: Dorothy Lombard

The Jefferson County Historical Commission sends greetings to the recipients of Historically Jeffco published bian­ this publication. One of the goals of the Commission is to provide information to nually in the summer and winter by persons and to organizations interested in the history of Jefferson County, Colorado. the Jefferson County Historical Com­ In 197 4 a need was felt for an umbrella group to coordinate the historical activities mission. of the County and to act as a liaison with National, State, and local historical Box 659 organizations. Hence, the Commission was formed and adopted by the Board of Morrison, Colorado 80465 County Commissioners. Other than the above activities, local history is recorded, sites of historical value is designated and historical programs are conducted by the Jefferson County Commissioners Commission. District 1 Rich Ferdinandsen In 1976 the first Festival of the West was organized and sponsored by the Historical District 2 Marjorie Clement Commission and continued as a project until it became self supported. District 3 John Stone The Jefferson County Hall of Fame was originated in 1979 with honors having been bestowed annually upon two residents of the County who have made outstanding Jefferson County Historical Com­ contributions to its history; one living and one dead. mission Through the Commission's efforts many places have been accepted for recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and/ or Centennial Sites. District 1 A history book of Jefferson County titled From Scratch was published in 1985 by Jane Gardner the Commission culminating several years of research by members, both past and Ester Harkness present. Ruth Richardson Marcetta Lutz - Historian Dorothy Lombard- Chairperson

District 2 Sharon Carr Vi Hader Irma Wyhs Erlene Hulsey - Secretary Jean Rogers Enid Thompson

District 3 Mary Bindner ON THE COVER Dennis L. Potter- Vice Chairman Mount Vernon Ranch House lived in the house all his life. To this day Rita Peterson it remains in the Matthews family. Beth Pratt- Treasurer Mount Vernon was the homesite of Erected originally as a general store, Charlotte McCashen Robert Williamson Steele, Governor of roadhouse, inn, post office and saloon, Norm Meyer the provisional Territory of Jefferson it was the first Wells Fargo Express Jamee R. Chambers ( 1859-1860), from which the Territory Station in this part of the Country and of Colorado was created on February was listed as a stage stop until after 1885. Editor 16, 1861. At times immigrants lined up for two Dennis L. Potter Explorers and gold seekers heading miles at this toll station. out of Denver for the mountains made A record of this structure has been Publisher their first change of horses at the mouth made and deposited for permanent Brook Trout Press of Mount Vernon Canyon. One of the reference in the Library of Congress. It Golden, Colorado first structures built at this site was was the first site in Jefferson County to Mount Vernon House, constructed in be list~d on the National Register of Photographs 1860 by George M. Morrison, a stone Historic Places on November 20, 1970. Colorado Historical Society cutter from Montreal. Frank Matthews It was torn down in 1965 to make room Arvada Historical Society arrived in Colorado in 1868 and soon for Interstate 70. A marker now stands Jefferson County Historical Society after 1870 purchased Mount Vernon on its site at Matthews-Winters Park at House; his son John was born there and I70 and Highway 26.

1 ARVADA'S MAIN STREET

By: Marcetta R. Lutz

Every town, in it's beginning stages, had a umain street". This was the street where the chief businesses were located, and where people congregated to keep up with the daily happenings. The small village of Arvada consisted of nine blocks and was developed on the com­ bined lots of B.F. Wadsworth and L.A. Reno. Arvada was the name given to the town by Mary Wadsworth, who named it for her brother-in-law, Hiram Arvada Haskin. The first plat for Arvada was filed in 1870 so that the Colorado Cen­ tral Railroad could leave mail for the small community. The Post Office was located in the Wadsworth cabin on the main wagon road through town. And so it was that the name given to the road was ((Railroad Street.1 Twenty years later Railroad Street had developed into a much more invit­ Grandview Avenue looking west in 1905. ing roadway. A double row of cotton­ wood trees were planted on each side of The first major development on Although the Avenue was beautifully an irrigation ditch. Additional homes Grandview Avenue was digging the landscaped in these early days, the were built and great pride was taken in ucut" under the Colorado and Southern streets were of dirt and the sidewalks landscaping the grounds. In the distance Railroad tracks and Grandview Avenue were either dirt or board planks. By were the Rocky Mountains, often cov­ in 1902.4 Thus, an underpass was built 1908 the Town Board passed an ordi­ ered with snow, which completed the for the Denver and Northwestern Rail­ nance forbidding the use of wooden panorama. The scene was breath taking road and Interurban which ran north­ sidewalks. Vitrified brick or cement and therefore the _street deserved a more west of Leyden. A trestle or bridge was walks were recommended within the appropriate name. Reno and W ads­ b uilt over these tracks and became part Town limits.7 worth changed the name to uGrand of Grandview Avenue.5 The streets were another matter. The View Avenue" in the 1890 plat of The tramway then became the main Town had may other pressing problems Arvada.2 It was spelled as two words, form of transportation to and from to solve before attention could be fo­ giving each word equal emphasis. This Denver. To get to Arvada passengers cused on improving the streets. In the seemed to perfectly describe the entire were unloaded south of the underpass interim, townspeople sprayed the streets community's feeling for their umain and climbed the steep steps to Grand­ with water to control the dust and street". view Avenue. Townspeople were in­ dragged them to remove muddy ruts. In Some years after the incorporation of censed that tourists, riding the tramway, this farming community horses con­ Arvada in 1904, Grand View was inter­ neither had a glimpse of the ugrand tinued to be used which necessitated changeably spelled as one or two words.3 view" or of Arvada. By 1916 the Denver hitching posts and a public watering Although it was never legally changed, it Interurban Company built a spur which trough. When Arvada's water system became spelled as one word as a rna tter took passengers to Arvada Station at was established in 1910 the town pump of convenience. Grandview and Vance Streets.6 was replaced with public drinking foun­ tains.8 One was located at the corner of Wadsworth and Grandview Avenues and the other was at the top of the 1 Jefferson County Plat Book 59 , page 5. tramway steps. 2 Arvada Historical Society, Waters of GJld z87o-z9B

2 with ornamental poles and street lights. The wagon scales were also removed from several store fronts giving Grand~ view Avenue a modern and updated appearance.13 Not only the citizens of Arvada, but the State Highway Commission encour ~ aged the completion of Grandview Ave~ nue <

9 Arvada Historical Society, Arooda , }usc Between You and Me , I904-194I. Johnson Publishing Company, Boul­ der, Colo., 1985, pp. 30. 10 The Arooda Enterprise, December 1923. 13 Arooda ]usc Between You and Me, op.cit., pp. 87.

11 lbid. December 1921. 12 lbid. March 24, 1921. H Ibid. pp. 130.

3 By-pass was built in 1957-1959. This was the last big change that took place on Grandview Avenue until the 1981 renovation. The cement street which was used in Arvada for sixty years was totally re­ moved and a new cement street was laid between Teller and Yukon Streets. New brick sidewalks, light poles, and trees also made the business fronts more attractive.16 It seems there will always be rom for improvements with hindsight being a more reliable determinant than fore­ sight. The ttRailroad" continues to shape Arvada's destiny. Colorado and South­ ern Railroad was taken over by the Burlington Northern system on January 5, 1982.17 This line stops traffic on busy

Digging out the Grandview Cut in Arvada in 1902. Photo Courtesy of Colorado State Historical Wadsworth Boulevard several times a Society. day. Today there is discussion of ways to relay games, Kangaroo Court, free pie Administration, the ttparkway" on East solve this problem. The main solution coupons dropped from the roof of the Grandview was landscaped. A retaining seems to be the one arrived at over 80 First National Bank building, several wall was also installed to provide addi­ years ago, that is, digging out the ttcut" bands and orchestras and all night street tional parking on the south side of the on Wadsworth Boulevard and return dancing. Arvada considered the event a Avenue between present day Webster the tracks and Avenue over this busy huge success and, with the exception of and Upham Streets. highway to their former trestles. four years, has held the Festival every Years later in 1950, the Denver year since 1925.15 Tramway Inc. abandoned the electric IS Ibid. pp. 145. During the Depression Grandview interurban line serving Arvada. The 16 Arvada Sentinel, July 30, 1981. Avenue again received needed improve­ trestle was removed and the old streetcar 17 Speas, Sam and Coel, Margaret, Goin' Railroading, Pruett Publishing Company, Denver, Colo. 1985, pp. 8. ments. In 1933 under the Civil Works ttcut" was filled in when Wadsworth

FIRST AUTOMOBILE ASCENT OF CASREROCK

In June of 1908 Charles F. Quaintance on August 1, 1908 started the climb and Harry L. Hartzell completed a steep from the bottom of the hill at 13th and automobile road to the top of Castle Washington Streets. Hering took as pas­ Rock in Golden. The road scar has since sengers, Charles Quaintance, John On October 6, r86o C. L. Palmer disappeared, but climbed 700 feet up a Reichert of Denver, and a newspaper was born as the first white child in steep winding road from the corner of man as witnesses. The Stanley Steamer Jefferson County. His birthplace was 13th and Ford Street. For two months made the trip to the top of Castle Rock a cabin sitting on the bank of Clear Hartzell pulled passengers up the steep in 12 minutes and 45 seconds, slipping Creek where Coors Brewery now slope on a stagecoach type wagon with and sliding only once near the summit, stands. teams of horses. Several daredevils who but with its power made the climb at a owned automobiles had attempted the lively pace. Once on the summit, Hering climb and failed, agreeing that an auto­ expressed his willingness to wager mobile could not make it up the road­ $1,000 that he could climb Castle Rock way. However, George Hering of Denver in his new Stanley Steamer rear end first. thought different. He had purchased a No one took his bet. new 20 horsepower Stanley Steamer and

4 THE lARIAT LOOP ROAD

By: Jane Gardner

You are going to Lookout Mountain west of Golden and of course, if time is important, travel by way oflnterstate 70 to the Lookout Mountain exit. The other road to Lookout Mountain is called the Lariat Loop road.lt is narrow, picturesque and winds up the side of Mount Zion, across Windy Saddle and rises over 1000 feet in elevation before it ends at Buffalo Bill's Grave. The traveler sees a spectrum of views, from deep canyons to majestic mountain ranges to wide open prairies. In 1911 the story of the Lariat Loop began when the Denver Chamber of Commerce President, Charles A. John, The entTance to the Denver Mountain Parks system below the Lariat Trail, 1920. son, appointed a special parks com, mittee to study the development of a of 70 to 100 men, one group working stone entrance gate posts were built at system of mountain parks. The Denver from top to bottom and the other from the foot of the Lariat Loop to serve as Mountain Parks and Parkways system bottom to top. Horse teams were used to the gateway to the Denver Mountain began developing at the turn of the haul materials to both camps that were Parks system. century. Robert Speer, Mayor of Den, set up for the grading teams. The Lariat A funicular railway was built in 1913 ver, began to dream of a design of Loop was designed as State Highway 21 that ran from Golden to the top of mountain parks to serve as a link bet, but after its completion in 1914 the Lookout Mountain at Wildcat Point. ween the urban area and the rugged State designation was dropped. The incline railway was 2740 feet long Rocky Mountains. Part of the design of the system and rose 1100 feet to the station at the Warwick Dewing headed the special involved the use of stone. This style was summit. parks committee, which in 1912 des, evident in shelter houses and comfort As often the case with historic sites, cribed the idea of parks forming an arc stations. At the top of the Lariat Loop time takes its toll on the condition of the along the front range and connected by a near Buffalo Bill's Grave is a rustic style resource. Some sections of the stone loop road that would serve as Denver's picnic shelter and comfort station built wall has dwindled to but a few short gateway to the mountains. Lookout from stone. segments. Numerous accidents has Mountain was to serve as the northern Halfway up Mount Zion near the prompted officials to replace walls with most park and main entrance into the second set of switchbacks is the remains steel guard rails. The office of Archae, mountain system which would include of the SpringHouse,barely visible due to ology and Historic Preservation at the Genessee, Filius, Bergen, Corwina, Little thick vegetation that has grown up Colorado Historical Society and the Park, Morrison, Starbuck, and Red around it. Originally,this Spring House Advisory Council on Historic Preserva, Rocks on the south. was built on rustic stone with arched tion in cooperation with the Colorado After the charter amendment was windows, log roof supports, and a Department Of Highways and Federal passed establishing the mountain parks, thatched roof. Now the structure is has Highway Administration took into Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. was hired to fallen in and is barely recognizable for account the historic nature of the stone plan the entire system, including the what it originally was. walls and are working to preserve those roads to connect the parks. In January of Stone walls were built alongside the historic resources. A commitment was 1913 money became available through Lariat Loop to serve as guard rails, with made by the Colorado Department of the City of Denver, Jefferson County gaps to aid in snow removal and to Highways to place the steel guardrails in and the State Highway Fund to begin preserve the view from the roadway. front of the stone walls where possible construction on the Lariat Loop Road. This type of wall is found in some and to research and record the history of William (eement Bill) Williams assisted canyons along the Front Range including the Lariat Loop.Zl Olmstead in planning the Lariat Loop. Boulder Canyon. Concrete posts and The Lariat Loop was built under the steel cable was used for safety closer to 21 Articles originally obtained from the Colorado Histo­ rical News, Sally Pearce, Staff Historian of the Colorado supervision of Olmstead by two teams the summit of Mount Zion. In 1917 tall Department of Highways. October of 1987.

5 THE PIAl IE CANYON RAILROAD

By: David Rainey22

Of all the important outside influ­ ences of the founding of the North Fork settlements of Pine, Buffalo Creek, Riverview and Foxton the building of the railroad was surely primary. The sawmills, ranches,and rock quarries would never have succeeded without the railroad. The early summer people al­ most all arrived by train, bringing their steamer trunks and often household servants. The original construction into Buffalo Creek was made by the Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad arriving there on June 17, 1878, and reaching Pine Grove( the Railroad's name for Pine) on July 8, 1878. That summer both pas­ senger and freight service began and The Denver South and Pacific Railroad stopped at Buffal.o Creek in 1884. continued for 59 years until April of 1937. The DSP&P was reorganized into the Denver Leadville and Gunnison The Buffalo Creek depot, which was up as far as Grant and then return in the Railroad on August 29, 1889 and in destroyed and rebuilt in 1897, was lo­ evenings passing Pine Grove and Buffalo turn the DL&G was sold to the Colo­ cated about 100 yards downstream from Creek shortly after 8:00PM. Along the rado and Southern Railroad on Decem­ Green's Mercantile. The Pine Grove way up one could pull the cord and the ber 28, 1898. depot, which was also replaced at least engineer would slow down and allow an The official indexes of Officials and once, stood almost where the present angl~r to drop off and fish the Platte Agents of the railroads show the follow­ North Fork Volunteer Fire Department River. That evening a wave to the engi­ ing agents on duty: firehouse now stands. At Pine Grove neer would provide pick up. r88s J.M. Pine, Pine Grove was the first coaling station west of While, like most railroads, the pas­ S.S. McDaniels, Buffalo Creek Denver and in early days was the base for senger trains with their little narrow None, Foxton several helper engines and their crews. gauge Mason, Cook or Balwin steam Foxton, Riverview and Bryn Mawr never locomotives (many dating from the r899 E.R. Judd, Pine Grove enjoyed a depot but were served by open 1880's) were the most visible, it was the E.J. Graham, Buffalo Creek shelter-station platforms. freight trains that did the most business. None, Foxton During all the years the custom of Many of these ran at night and it was a r903 E.R. Judd, Pine Grove ((meeting the train" became a high point thrill to lie in bed on a dark night and E.]. Graham, Buffalo Creek of the day. The morning train up from hear the locomotive whistle for the None, Foxton Denver arrived at Buffalo Creek at 10:10 water tank below Riverview and again as rgo8 A.C. Ellis, Pine Grove AM and Pine at 10:22 AM. The after­ the train reached Buffalo Creek and then S. W. Bixler, Buffalo Creek noon train from South Park arrived at Pine-Grove. According to the Colorado None, Foxton Pine Grove at 4: 14 PM and Buffalo Magazine, in the 1880's the population Creek at 4:23 PM. It was ((at the train" of the Buffalo Creek area was about rgr2 Miss E.H. Jardine, Pine Grove that most of the daily local news was 1,400 people and for several years an None, Buffalo Creek passed around. In the early 1930's it was average of over 30 carloads of lumber None, Foxton a special time to meet and plan daily were shipped to Denver each day. This rgr8 G.E. Carnahan, Pine Grove activities for the local people. continued into the late 1890's when None, Buffalo Creek Unique to the South Park Line was a most of the usable lumber within 15 ] .0. Roach, Foxton summer uFish Train" on Saturdays and miles or so was gone. Traffic then turned rg26 S. Soper, Pine Grove Sundays from late May until Fall. The to feldspar and in later years some None, Buffalo Creek trains would leave Denver at 2:00PM on 22 Article first printed in the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Book: "Recipes and Anedotes" 1984. ].0. Roach, Foxton Saturday and at 7:45 PM Sunday going Continued on page 7 6 JEFFERSON COUNTY'S FIRST SOLDIERS

By: Dennis L. Potter

Frank Ferrell of Golden was 21 years knocked Ferrell from his horse. pled from his horse at first fire.23 A old when he enlisted in Company F of Staggs Thompson and the rest of the furious fight began. When it was over, the Second Colorado Cavalry on May 2nd Colorado Cavalry advanced dis­ nine other Coloradoans were dead, in­ 14, 1862. Joseph Inman was 43 years mounted upon a fortified Confederate cluding Owen McFadden. The Rebels old when he enlisted as a Private in position on October 21, 1864. The lost twenty men killed.24 Golden's Company F on December 27, Confederates were positioned behind a On March 1, 1864 Company F of the 1862. Owen McFadden was 33 when he stone wall on the Kansas City-Lexington 2nd Colorado Cavalry, commanded by enlisted on April22, 1862 in Golden for Road on the Little Blue River and the Captain George West was stationed at service with Company C of the 2nd Coloradoans were ordered to dislodge Independence, Missouri and patrolled Colorado Cavalry. On September 4, them with close in fire. After a short the hills for bushwhackers. On March 1862 Jeremiah Sanderson, age 46, en­ fight the 2nd Cavalry retreated back 25, 1864 Private Jeremiah Sanderson of listed as a Private into Company F of the toward Kansas City leaving many dead Golden died of disease in a hospital in 2nd Colorado and 28 year old Staggs on the battlefield and the wounded, Independence. Thompson enlisted on June 13, 1862 including Thompson, in Independence. The distinction of the first soldier also into Company F. In the early morning of July 6, 1864 from Jefferson County_ to die in the Even though nearly thirty men en­ Rebel Bushwhacker George Todd and service of his Country was Joseph listed in Golden to fight for the Union his men marched to the Ginter Farm Inman. On December 9, 1863 five cause in the Civil War and survived the south of Independence, Missouri. They Companies of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry ordeal without lose of life or limb, two hid in the bushes near the Glasgow Road bivouacked at Benton Barracks, Mis­ men mentioned earlier received dis­ and waited for the Union patrol they souri. Half of Company F was still in abling wounds and the other three never knew would be coming. The Glasgow route to Missouri from Fort Riley, returned home. Stage came along and Todd and his men Kansas while Inman and the other half of Frank Ferrell was severely wounded robbed it. They took the passengers and Company F were with Major Dodd just on October 23, 1864 during the Battle bound them in the Ginter House. At arrived at Benton Barracks from patrol­ of Westport, Missouri. Ferrell and his 5:00PM Todd decided not to wait for ling the hills around Hickman Mills, Company F was positioned on the left the patrol but instead left his hiding spot Missouri. While awaiting the rendez­ flank of the Union line facing Hunter's to ret.un to the Ginter House and free vous at the Barracks from the remainder Missouri Cavalry and Blocher's Arkan­ his prisoners. Just then 26 men under of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry Joseph sas Battery. Between them was the Simp­ the command of Captain Seymour Inman became sick and died on Decem­ son House on Wornall's Lane and Wagner came trotting down the road. ber 21, 1863 just short of his first year behind Company F was Brush Creek. They were a portion of Company C of anniversary as a soldier.25 Just before the Cavalry charge and fight the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, one soldier 23 Wagner was a Probate Judge from Arapahoe County between Company F and Hunter's Mis­ being Owen McFadden of Golden. before the war. sourians an artillery round exploded Wagner ordered his men to pursue 24 Colorado Transcript, Berthoud's Report, April 25, 1877. before the ranks of Jefferson County Todd and his men not knowing that an 25 Colorado Transcript, Report from Berthoud, Apri125, men fired by the Arkansas battery which ambush had been set up. Wagner top- 1877.

lhe Platte Canyon Railroad Continued from page 6 Bailey, Crystal Lake near Pine Grove With the improvements of the high­ and Bosler's Pond at Riverview. Ice cut ways and the automobiles the passenger into two-hundred pound blocks were traffic dropped off and with the end of railroad ties and other heavy rough loaded into cleaned out cattle cars and the heavy lumbering trade and decline in lumber as well as the spring and fall hauled to Denver to be stored in sawdust mining in the Leadville, Breckenridge, movements of livestock. During winter until summer came. Some of the Crystal and Fairplay areas, the railroad fell on there was a movement of naturat- ice Lake ice was hauled to Buffalo and hard times and in April of 1937 was from the Maddox and Epsy ponds above stored by Mr. Searway and Mr. Hart. abandoned.

7 JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION HALL OF FAME

The Jefferson County Historical Com­ Political: The person has contributed nations to:Mary Bindner, 4490 South mission will host the Tenth Annual Hall to or changed the course of events in Reed Street, Littleton, Colorado, of Fame reception on Saturday, N ovem­ Jefferson County. 80123. Or call 972-9545 or Jane ber 19, 1988 at the Golden Library. Gardner at 424-0755. Two Jefferson County residents, one IndustryI Agriculture: The person living and one deceased, will be honored has been prominent in industrial or Those Previously Installed in the on this occasion. agricultural development in Jefferson Hall of Fame: You and your organization are invited County. to submit one nomination in each cate­ 1979 Dr. Charles D. Spivak gory. The nominees should be people Public Service: The person has been Robert F. Clement who have molded and shaped the history involved in founding or promoting a 1980 Edward L. Berthoud of Jefferson County. Their contribu­ charitable or public service organization. Catherine P. Dittman tions will be judged in the following Education:The person has been in­ 1981 William Loveland categories. volved with educational progress in Glenn R. Scott Jefferson County. 1982 Benjamin R. Wadsworth The Written Word: The person has Homer L. Pearson written articles, stories or books on Artistic/ Cultural: The person has 1983 John L. Jerome Jefferson County. made artistic and/ or cultural contribu­ Mary Helen Crain tions in Jefferson County. 1984 George West Research: The person has done exten­ Hazel L. Humphrey sive research on the geology, archeology Please include as much biographical 1985 William W. Wilmore or history of Jefferson County. information as possible about your nom­ Patricia K. Wilcox inee, as the judges' selection will be 1986 E. E. Wyland Photography/ Cartography: The per­ based entirely on the information you Lloyd Gorrell son has been recognized for photo­ provide. Nominations must be received 1987 Torrence Corbin graphing or mapping Jefferson County. by August 19, 1988. Address nomi- Francis Rizzari

On June 2 I, I934 Safeway opened its business in Jefferson County at the corner of I3th and Washington Streets. 0. A. Nelson was the manager. Due to the Depres­ sion, Safeway advertised its food On February 27, I936 for the first prices in compliance with the Retail time, school kids in Jefferson County Food and Grocery Code established would be served hot lunches. The by the NRA and President Roosevelt. kids were to bring their own bread Sugar sold for 5 cents a pound, coffee and the school districts would pro­ for 27 cents a pound, pork roast at I I vide the hot lunch. After a few cents a pound, ground beef at 8 cents lunches it appeared that the kids a pound, and bread at 7 cents a loaf. enjoyed the vegetable stew the most.

8 HISTORICALLY JEFFCO JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION WRITING AWARD CONTEST RULES

The Jefferson County Historical footnotes. They should be typed on B~H are received.

Commission of Golden, Colorado is X 11 H paper, double~spaced with at least sponsoring a Writing Award Contest on 1H margins. Awards the history of Jefferson County, Colo~ 3. The completed entry form and the 1. The Jefferson County Historical rado. Topics of this Contest are to relate composition are to be sent to: Commission will publish entries which directly to the factual history of Jeffer~ Historically ]effco Writing Award Contest receive awards and any other entries son County, Colorado. Jefferson County Historical Commission which the Commission selects in its Box 659 bi~annual !(Historically Jeffco". Eligibility Morrison, Colorado 8o465 2. Young entrants first prize is The Writing Award Contest entrants 4 . The compositions must be that of $250.00 will be divided into two categories and the individual in whose name the entry is 3. Open division first prize is$750.00 will be open to all persons in one of the submitted, and must be an original and second prize $250.00. following: composition written specifically for this 1. Young Entrant ( 17 years and competition. Guidelines younger) 1. All entries become the property of 2. Open (All ages) Judging the Jefferson County Historical Com~ The competition will be judged by a mission. Entry Procedure panel composed of three area historians 2. Members of the Commission and 1. Each entry must be accompanied whose decision will be final. The J ef~ appointed judges and relatives of both by a complete and signed Entry Form. ferson County Historical Commission are ineligible for prizes. 2. All entries should consist of no reserves the right not to present awards 3. Entries must not infringe upon the more than 10,000 words, including if, in it discretion, no meritorious entries rights of any third person.

In August of 1952 the first tele~ vision sets went on sale in Jefferson County. Philco and Sylvania Tele~ visions were sold at Foss Drug Store in Golden and in the Golden Furni~ ture Store Dumont Sets were sold. On the southwest corner of I 3th Prices ranged from the basic model at and Washington Street in Golden $2 ro.oo to the mahogany models at was the home of Alexander Cum~ $480.00. mings, the governor of Colorado from r865 to r867. Today, the site of the governor's mansion is a bank. In the 195o's a service station was on the site.

9 APEX Steele, Solomon Shoup, and L. L. guide to the Rocky Mountain Regions, By: Francis Rizzari Bowen. The line of the road was to although they made quite a bit over extend from the junction on the Golden Golden, Golden Gate and Mt. Vernon. Apex is one of the real ghost towns, City and Denver Road18 at what was Richard Broad, writing in the Colorado not only on Jefferson County, but of the known as the ColdSprings Ranch 19 being Transcript, states, ttthe first guberna­ entire State. Historians pass it by en­ about 10 miles from Denver City, up the torial mansion at Mt. Vernon has van­ tirely, while extolling the advantages and valley to the mouth of Amos Gulch, ished, but if you wish to see what opportunities recorded in the history of thence up said gulch to the summit of remains of the second, you will find other towns in the area. It is not listed in the mountains, thence along the present them at the entrance to Apex Gulch." A the list of towns casting votes in 1860, in travelled road to the junction of the monument marks the location of Steele's the first election in the County. Some Gregory and Blue River Roads, etc. etc. cabin on the Mt. Vernon townsite. writers claim Governor Steele divided ... to the town of Missouri City. An old All traces of the town were obliterated his time between Mt. Vernon and Apex. General Land Office plat for T. 4S, R . when construction began on Magic We could not even be sure there was an 69W., surveyed in 1861, shows the Mountain-ghostliest of all amusement Apex, were it not for the Apex and portion of this road near Cold Springs parks. Today, the site is covered by Gregory Wagon Road. The act to incor­ Ranch and it is labelled ttto Apex". Heritage Square.zo porate this road was approved by the E.L. Berthoud, the official historian 18 No w known as South Golden Road , Editors Note. Council and House of Representatives for Jefferson County in 1880, ignores 19 Location is now the southwest corner of Mt. Vernon Road and South Golden Road . This Ranch later became of Colorado Territory on October 11, Apex in the History of Clear Creek and known as the Pullman homestead, named for George M . 1861. Boulder Valleys. Burt and Berthoud also Pullman , inve ntor of the Pullman car. Pullman filed a claim for 160 acres here on October 30, 1860 . Editors The incorporators were Robert W . ignored it twenty years before in their note. 20 Articles taken from the W estem ers of May 1964.

On November r5, 1952 the first televised Colorado football game was broadcast on KFEL-TV of Denver. The Colorado School of Mines was playing the Colorado College Tigers at Brooks Field in Golden. Mines won the game r4 to 6. Ironically, in r889 these same two teams played the very first college football game in Colorado history.

At midnight on October 22, 1955 dial telephones went into service for the first time in Jefferson County.

Spring House halfway up the Lariat Trail from Golden.

10 nHistory is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity."

~Cicero

Jefferson County Historical Commission Bulk Rate Box659 U.S. Postage Morrison, Colorado 80468 PAID Permit No. 148 Golden, CO