November 13, 1762: Future Jefferson Jefferson County: A Chronology of Events area transferred from France to Spain with 1832: Trader Louis Vasquez builds Louisiana by the Treaty fort at mouth of present day Clear of Fontainebleau. Creek, which is renamed Vasquez Fork 1843-1844: Adventurer 1598: Spanish expedition or Vasquez River. He traps for furs Rufus B. Sage camps in of Juan de Zaldivar, sent by along the river in ensuing years. future Golden valley and Governor Juan de Onate from writes of his experiences. Santa Fe, reaches the present 1834: Estes party finds and day South Platte River at mines gold at Clear Creek Jefferson County. They name it sandbar southwest of present the Rio Chato. day West 44th and McIntyre.

Circa 1839: Major conflict between Ute, Arapaho and 1739: Mallet brothers tribes results in future rename future southern Golden valley becoming Jeffco boundary the de facto no man’s land. Riviere la Plat, in future years anglicized to Platte. Its Spanish, French and English names all refer to the April 30, 1803: Future Jefferson County June 22, 1850: Gold discovered in Ralston Creek near the same thing, its being a becomes territory when the present location of 56th Avenue and Benton in Arvada by Lewis wide, flat river. U.S. purchases Louisiana from France under Ralston and his party of prospectors who continued on to President , after whom California, their planned destination. county one day will be named. copyright Jefferson County Historical Society copyright Jefferson County Historical Society 1800

Circa 1750: Arapaho October 1, 1800: June 25-28, 1858: William and Cheyenne tribes Future Jefferson Green Russell party follows up arrive in future County area returned 1855: Lucian on Ralston gold discovery and Jefferson County. from Spain to France Ralston, future finds limited results. Searching with Louisana by the prominent county further, discovers major gold Treaty of San Ildefonso. citizen, first travels near the confluence of Cherry through area as Creek and the South Platte River, Army scout. touching off the “Pikes Peak” gold rush. July 5, 1820: Long expedition members Edwin James, Titian Peale, Verplank and Bernard become 1st United States citizens to set foot in modern day Jefferson September 1799: French County, following present day Clear Creek. French August 25, 1855: trading party led by Jean members Joseph Bijeau and Abraam Le Doux name the Territory establishes Arapahoe de la Maisonnueve and river Cannonball Creek after the stones in its riverbed. County to include area of Preneloupe possibly reach copyright Kathryn Ordway eastern Colorado to the future Golden valley. Continental Divide.

1682: France claims future Jefferson County Early 1850s: Peter Rosen and wife, forced to stop traveling due to area as part of the new her health, reputedly establish ranch atop Crow Hill at present day Louisana district of New September 1815: French Oehlmann Park, becoming first permanent Jeffco settlers. Surveyors France. trading party of Auguste Pierre in 1860s don’t change any stakes Rosen laid out with rudimentary Choteau and Jules de Munn instruments. November 29, 1858: The Arapahoe hold grand trading council with City Town Company organized by miners area natives on present day who found Clear Creek sandbar and laid Bear Creek, which is named claims alongside leftover Estes markers. Grand Camp Creek after the Although Arapahoe City existed for only council. a few years, it was the town in what later became Jefferson County. 30 Historically Jeffco 2011 copyright Kathryn Ordway. Jefferson County: A Chronology of Events

May 6, 1859: Arapahoe City July 17, 1859: 1861: Three mining districts formed miner John H. Gregory discovers Golden City Methodist and operated in central Jefferson County gold at present area of Black Episcopal Church, now to administer extra legal law. Bergen Hawk/Central City, giving First United Methodist District (Bergen Park), Junction District sustaining credibility to gold rush. Church, becomes first (Conifer), and Mt. Vernon District (Mt. religious congregation Vernon Canyon) then combined under the established in leadership of Thomas Bergen to secede April 1862: Jefferson County Commissioners January 7, 1859: Jefferson County. from Jefferson County form short-lived reorganize county internally from 5 districts to Arapahoe City miner Ni-Wot County. Loyalists secede from current 3. George A. Jackson discovers October 27, 1859: Town of Mt. Vernon Ni-Wot County to turn nearby Baden paper gold at present site of established at entrance to Mt. Vernon Canyon. townsite into reality, competing with Mt. June 20, 1862: First county tax and school tax Springs, giving copyright Jefferson County Historical Society Vernon. levied by Jefferson County Commissioners. sustaining credibility to the February 28, 1861: President James August 14, 1862: Golden City becomes capital gold rush. November 28, 1859: Buchanan signs bill creating the Territory of the Territory of Colorado, remains so until 1867. Summer 1859: Provisional Jefferson of Colorado. Delegates from Territorial legislature November 16, 1861: Original Jefferson settlements attend meets and organizes 1859: Gold rushers County Commissioners, John M. Ferrell, a constitutional twelve counties, including rename rivers Clear Spafford C. Field and George H. Richardson, convention in Jefferson County. Creek and Montana appointed by Gov. William Gilpin and meet to to draft proposed 1863: Henry Stevens, the Creek. Montana December 1859: First organize upcoming county election. Original state and territorial first recorded homesteader in Creek, named after newspaper, the Western 5 districts of Jefferson County created. constitutions. Jefferson County under the 1863 Colorado’s first Mountaineer, published November 19, 1861: Great windstorm Homestead Act, builds his cabin at gold rush city at in Jefferson County by the destroys 25 buildings in Golden City. the current site of 44th and Teller its mouth, soon Boston Company, George streets in Wheat Ridge. renamed Bear Creek. West editor. December 7, 1861: Election of county officers, including the first elected Board of County Commissioners. 1860 December 17, 1859: January 6, 1862: Newly elected July 1859: First legal trial in Jefferson County officials assume office. Golden Gate City County, Rollins v Martiney, 1859: The first irrigation ditch established at takes place at Golden City. in the current Jefferson County entrance to Golden 1859: Coal discovered on is dug by David K. Wall, the Gate Canyon. “father of irrigated farming in Coal Creek, 14 miles north Colorado.” The ditch extended of Golden. from Tucker Gulch near Clear Creek and was used to irrigate September 1859: Voters January 2, 1860: First county Wall’s vegetable farm. By choose to seek establishment election, under provisional Jefferson the end of 1859 two other of a new territory rather than Territory: Golden City selected as irrigation ditches had been a new state. county seat; also elected a sheriff, dug in Jefferson County, the October 1859: clerk and recorder, and county Wanamaker ditch off of Clear Constitutional convention judge. March 28, 1862: Lt. James A. Dawson of Golden City helps lead critical attack that turns Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico in favor of the Union, turning Creek and the McBroom ditch adopts a provisional January 9, 1860: First school in back Confederate invasion targeting Colorado and other western territory. off of Bear Creek. territorial constitution for Jefferson County opened in Golden. Jefferson Territory. copyright Jefferson County Historical Society January 16, 1860: Golden City Masonic lodge, one of first Masonic organizations in Colorado, initially established. August 26, 1860: All time hottest temperature in Jefferson County of 104 degrees recorded in Golden City. October 6, 1860: Birth of Charles L. Palmer, reputedly the first child of gold rush settlers to be born in Jefferson County. He served as November 1861: Jefferson County reorganized to become one of the county commissioner, 1902-1909. original 17 counties created by Colorado Territorial Legislature. New Jeffco borders leave out Henderson, Marshall coal banks and areas November 22, 1860: Golden June 16, 1859: Golden City established. “City” was east of present day Sheridan Boulevard and bring in areas of future City becomes capital of Jefferson dropped from the town’s title Jan. 22, 1872. Pine Grove and Buffalo Creek and areas to the south and west. Territory. Legislature is also known copyright Jefferson County Historical Society copyright Jefferson County Historical Society to meet at Mt. Vernon. Historically Jeffco 2011 31 September 1, 1879: 1st Jefferson County telephone service started by Golden Telephone & Dispatch Company. October 24, 1879: Golden Opera House, Jefferson 1864: Colorado’s first railway County’s first theatrical venue, opens. company, the Colorado Central December 27, 1879: The Hayward murderers, captured Railroad Company, incorporated after interstate manhunt, illegally hanged at Golden. by William A. H. Loveland in Golden. June 1864: Flood wipes out November 7, 1882: Election all bridges on Clear Creek, Day earthquake of magnitude compelling citizens to use 6.2, the largest recorded in ferries. Jefferson County, shakes Golden, October 23, 1864: Jefferson with effect particularly felt at Jefferson County Courthouse. County citizens including January 1, 1868: Golden City celebrates the ground breaking for the first rail- George West and George road construction in Jefferson County, by the Colorado Central Railroad Company. Jackson face each other in copyright Jefferson County Historical Society combat in the Civil War battle of Westport, in Missouri. 1873: Last documented encamp- September 15, 1869: Jarvis Hall, first college in ment of Ute tribe, led by Chief December 19, 1866: 1883: Sacred Heart Jefferson County, established. Colorow, in Jefferson County. Colorado Transcript, now College, now Regis the Golden Transcript, now University, moves Colorado’s second oldest February 10, 1870: Colorado School of Mines to and opens in newspaper, founded by established at Golden. Morrison. George West in Golden City. September 12, 1870: Martin Leyden, and fel- low miners Patrick Stanton and Patrick Kelly die when Leyden Creek Coal Mine fills with deadly 1877: Dinosaur fossils discovered under auspices of fire damp gas. Arthur Lakes in Morrison Formation along the Dakota September 24, 1870: The Colorado Central Hogback near the town of Morrison in Jefferson County; Railroad line completed. First train arrives in this was the first major, and one of the most important, Jefferson County, at Golden City, from Denver. dinosaur discoveries in North America. copyright Jefferson County Planning and Zoning

1867: Last documented 1870 December 1, February 12, 1881: Colo- encampment of Arapaho tribe, August 1, 1876: Colo- 1870: The first rado State Industrial School led by Chief Friday, in Jefferson rado becomes a state. December 15, town plat of 1873: Colorado School of Mines Geology for wayward children ages County. 1887: 1st electricity Arvada filed. Museum established as Jarvis Hall 6-18, now the Lookout in Jefferson County 1867: Golden Paper Mills, only Originally, the Museum by Arthur Lakes. Mountain School for Boys, as Golden Illuminat- paper mill west of Missouri, settlement September 12, 1873: First Swedish established in Golden. ing Company’s power established at Golden City, was known as church in Colorado, the Swedish Evan- 1877: First county court- plant goes online. making paper from recycled Ralston Point. gelical Lutheran Church, established at house completed in Golden rags and straw. Golden by Swedish immigrants. at 1500 Avenue between present-day 15th and 16th streets. August, 1868: Presidential candidate 1882: Unplatted area comprising Wheat Ridge Ulysses S. Grant stays at the Church named by resident Henry Lee, who served as Ranch, today at 108th and Wadsworth. a state senator, 1885-1889. The area was first November 23, 1868: Shootout settled as farmsteads in 1859. between members of outlaw Musgrove copyright Jefferson County Historical Society Gang, Rocky Mountain Detective Agency and Sheriff Keith in Golden results in death of saloonkeeper Miles Hill.

January 3, 1871: Town of Golden City incorporated.

September 19, 1872: Matthews Hall divinity school opens. October 1872: Town of Morrison established; town plat filed November 28, 1874. December 23, 1872: The narrow gauge section of the November 24, 1873: Coors Brewing Company founded in Golden by Adolph Colorado Central Railroad, linking Denver and Golden with Coors Sr. and Jacob Schueler. Coors bought out his partner on May 4, 1880. Central City through Clear Creek Canyon completed, is first copyright Jefferson County Historical Society railroad into the Colorado mountains.

32 Historically Jeffco 2011 December 14, 1910: Leyden Coal May 13, 1889: Edgewater town Mine fire disaster, ten miners killed, plat filed. several injured. One injured miner July 1, 1889: Lakewood town dies several years later. Leyden Shaft plat filed. #2 destroyed, but mine is able to September 9, 1889: White rebuild. Ash Coal Mine disaster. A tunnel 1911: Town of Westminster built under Clear Creek in incorporated. Golden flooded, drowning ten May 10, 1911: Concert by men whose bodies were never renowned opera singer Mary Garden recovered. 1903: Coal mining company town of Leyden established. puts Red Rocks Amphitheatre on the 1889: First college football game copyright Kathryn Ordway 1908: Crown Hill Cemetery established. world musical map. played in Colorado between the Tower of Memories built in 1926-1948. Colorado School of Mines and copyright Kathryn Ordway Colorado College. 1901: Edgewater incorpo- rated. June 27, 1890: Westminster August 2, 1900: Colorado platted as Harris Park. It was State Home and Industrial originally called Harrisburg. School for Girls for wayward The name was changed to girls ages 6-18, established Westminster in 1908. on April 4, 1887, moves to July 21, 1890: Severe rain Jefferson County and opens as Mountain View School July 6, 1912: Look- storm begins after a long dry out Mountain Scenic spell causing Clear Creek to for Girls south of Green Mountain. Railroad from Golden flood, claiming 3 lives in Clear completed. Creek Canyon. August 9, 1905: Evangelical Lutheran Sanitorium es- 1909: Mother Frances Xavier tablished in Wheat Ridge, becomes Lutheran Hospital. Cabrini purchases Lookout Mountain August 2, 1912: Two April 3, 1894: Ella Deaver becomes 1st woman copyright Kathryn Ordway property above Jackson Gulch on shot and South Platte elected to office in Jefferson County, as Treasurer of which she built a summer home for Hotel destroyed when the City of Golden. Denver orphans. The stone house gunman arsonist ter- rorizes South Platte. October 11, 1904: January 29, 1906: was completed in 1914. May 30-June 1, 1894: Floods hit Clear Creek, Bear Hotel is later rebuilt. Creek and South Platte, causing major damage Town of Mountain Town of Morrison copyright Kathryn Ordway along rivers and in Golden and Morrison. View, or “Mount View,” incorporated. incorporated.

September 20, 1891: The first tramway 1905November 23, 1905: Jani- to Lakewood and Golden from Denver be- 1903: Camp tor Oscar Nolin risks life to April 15, 1913: gins service by the Denver, Lakewood and George West estab- save South School at Golden May 31, 1908: Lakeside Colorado Legislature Golden Railway Company. It later became lished as Colorado from explosion after steam Amusement Park opens. passes an act authoriz- part of the Denver Tramway Corporation National Guard’s boiler is sabotaged, saving Image from September 1, 1908 ing the city of Denver and was popularly known as the “Loop.” Rifle Range. over 100 lives. Denver Republican. to establish the Denver Mountain Parks in the 1905: Cheesman Dam on mountain areas of Jef- South Platte River, world’s ferson, Clear Creek, and July 24, 1896: Great Flood tallest dam at 221 feet tall, Grand counties. from massive thunderstorm completed. inundates Bear Creek, Clear December 4-5, 1913: Creek, Cub Creek, Golden Gate May 31, 1906: Earliest Blizzard of 1913 dumps July 30, 1908: First automobile ascent of Canyon, Mt. Vernon Canyon, documented performance 4-5 feet of snow in Castle Rock on South Table Mountain near South Platte River and Tucker at Red Rocks Amphithe- Golden, Arvada, Mor- Golden made by George Hering of Denver in Gulch. 29 lives are lost at atre, “Grand Opening of rison, and Evergreen, his new 20-horsepower Stanley Steamer. Evergreen, Golden, Morrison the Garden of the Titans”, the largest 24-hour and and Mt. Vernon Canyon, with takes place. 1908: “M” emblem for the Colorado School of overall storm amounts great material destruction in April 9, 1907: Mines placed on Mount Zion by students and on record for Jefferson Clear Creek Canyon, Golden Thirty square mile extreme faculty, designed by Joseph F. O’Byrne. County. The death of July 4, 1892: Mount Olivet Cemetery opened. It was and Morrison. southern tip of Jefferson pioneer resident John called “The New City of the Dead.” County transferred to Park Bergen in Evergreen and copyright Kathryn Ordway County. the probable death of Golden dairyman John November 12, 1907: Klaassens are attributed Small town of Lakeside to the storm. incorporated. 1907: Death of alleged Colorado cannibal Alferd Packer, a resident of Deer Creek after his release from September 7, 1911: Standley Lake formally dedicated by prison in 1901. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson. copyright Kathryn Ordway

August 1904: Arvada incorporated. copyright Jefferson County Historical Society Historically Jeffco 2011 33 October 17, 1940: Jefferson County Under Sheriff Clarence Bunch Fugate dies in line of duty when shot by bartender wanted for earlier shooting in Arvada. 1918-1919: Spanish influenza 1941: Remington Arms Company ammunition factory established in epidemic hits Jefferson County, Lakewood, now the site of the Denver Federal Center; the largest con- hospitalizing hundreds and claiming tract awarded by the federal government in Colorado up to that time. lives including Golden City Councilor 1945: Ruth W. Quinn of Edgewater becomes the first woman to serve Oscan Nolin and pharmacist Henry on a Jefferson County jury. Foss. December 13, 1921: Satanic Coal Mine Disaster near Morrison claims lives of 6 men and injures 1 as mine March 27, 1937: Denver Fire fills with deadly fire damp gas. Clay Mine north of Golden caves April 14, 1922: The first public in, trapping 3 miners while 1 gathering of the Ku Klux Klan in escapes. After 18 hours all min- Jefferson County on the present site ers are rescued uninjured. of Heritage Square, complete with August 15, 1938: Jefferson 1914: The Lariat Trail, also known blazing torches. County Pioneer Museum estab- 1955: Martin-Marietta Company (originally the Glen L. Martin Company), now as the Lariat Loop Road, to Look- September 27, 1923: Ku Klux lished by Jefferson County Com- Lockheed-Martin Company established in South Jefferson County near Waterton. out Mountain Park at the top of Klan burns crosses on top of South missioners with aid of Works copyright Jefferson County Historical Society Lookout Mountain completed by Table Mountain on Castle Rock above Progress Administration. It William “Cement Bill” Williams. Golden. It becomes major regional continues to operate as Golden copyright Kathryn Ordway meeting place of the Klan. History Center today. August 24, 1946: Flood from rainstorm near Idle- August 7, 1927: Dance hall on top September 2, 1938: Bear dale floods Bear Creek, killing woman at Morrison. 1957: County jail and 1915-1920: Tiny of Golden’s Castle Rock burns down, Creek flood kills 6 people in Bear 1947-1950: The Denver Federal Center established Sheriff’s residence Town, a miniature believed caused by arsonists. Creek Canyon between Morrison on the site of the Remington Arms Company facility. built next to the 1953 town for children, and Kittredge, with $450,000 in courthouse at 16th and built by George E. damage through Morrison. March 18, 1948: Denver annexes Inspiration Point Turner on Turkey out of Jefferson County. Arapahoe. It was later Creek. used as the Assessor/ Treasurer building.

June 3, 1917: Buffalo Bill buried 1935 on top of Lookout Mountain near the current site of the Pahaska Te- 1949: Jolly Rancher candy invented by Harm- 1958: Town of Bow Mar es- pee, built in 1921 as his museum. sens at shop in downtown Golden. tablished and incorporated, January 25, 1952: Denver Boulder Turnpike located in both Jefferson and opens. Arapahoe Counties. 1950: All 39 existing Jefferson County school 1936-1940: The Red Rocks Amphitheatre near districts consolidated into the state’s largest Morrison built by the Civilian Conservation school district, Jefferson County R-1. Corps (CCC) under the Works Progress Adminis- 1952: Jefferson County Public Library estab- tration (WPA) and the Denver Mountain Parks. lished by the Board of County Commissioners. copyright Jefferson County Historical Society

1935-1939: Ralston Dam built as April 1952: Construction of Rocky Flats Atomic Energy Depression era federal works project. Plant begins in Jefferson County. 1917: Charles Boettcher’s summer home on Lookout Moun- tain completed. The home was given to Jefferson County by November 15, 1952: The first televised Colorado football Boettcher’s granddaughter, Charline Breeden, in 1972; it is game, Colorado School of Mines versus Colorado College, now open to the public for tours and special events. played at the School of Mines’ Brooks Field and shown on copyright Jefferson County Historical Society KFEL-TV Channel 2. 1953: New county courthouse completed in Golden at 17th and Arapahoe. 1953: Jefferson Symphony Orchestra begins performing.

March 19, 1932: The Colorado School of Mines emblem, the “M” on Mt. Zion, is permanently lit. copyright D. Harrison

34 Historically Jeffco 2011 May 1989: Tiny Town reopens after restoration. 1990: Human Services building completed in Jefferson County Government Center campus at 900 Jefferson County Parkway. 1990: C-470 highway completed through Jefferson County. 1993: Administration and Courts facility completed in Jefferson County Government Center at 100 Jefferson County Parkway. March 18-19, 2003: 2nd largest snowstorm April 28, 1995: Jefferson County Sergeant Timothy Mossbrucker on record in Jefferson County dumps 50.5 inches dies in line of duty when shot by gunman at grocery in southeast of snow on Golden and other Jeffco places. 1958: Bandimere Speedway opens. Jefferson County. May 15, 2004: Girder falls from C-470 bridge copyright Kathryn Ordway over I-70, killing the Post family. 1973: Interstate-70 through Jefferson February 9, 1960: Adolph Coors, III 2005: Laramie Building completed in Jefferson County completed. Picture Frame County Government Center on Illinois Street. murdered. Bridge at Genesee exit (completed October 16, 1960: Rocky Mountain 1970), designed by Frank Lundberg, Metropolitan Airport dedicated as receives national award from American 1996: District Attorney Jefferson County Airport. Institution of Steel Construction. building completed in Jef- November 9, 1960-September 9, ferson County Government 1970: Denver annexes Bear Valley Center at 500 Jefferson areas out of eastern Jefferson County. 1974: First woman, Joanne K. County Parkway. Patterson, elected as a county com- May 18, 1996: Buf- missioner. She served 1975-1979. falo Creek wildfire begins, 1967: Rockmont College, now 1974: National Renewable Energy destroying 12 structures and Colorado Christian University, Laboratory established as Solar burning 12,000 acres. Energy Research Institute. moves to Lakewood. May 1, 2010: Basket handled 6th Avenue Bridge moved 1967: Toll taken off of the 1974: National Earthquake Infor- into place in Lakewood, is largest object ever moved within Denver Boulder Turnpike. mation Center moved to Golden. Jefferson County. Curving 17-span Indiana Bridge completed the same year at Golden, both part of West Corridor light rail project. copyright Kathryn Ordway 2011 January 11, 1963: All time coldest April 20, 1999: Columbine High School massacre takes place when two temperature in Jefferson County students open fire in Columbine High School, killing 13 and injuring 24. of -56 degrees recorded in Buffalo November 24-26, 1999: Old 1953 Courthouse demolished by Colorado Creek. School of Mines. July 1963: First county courthouse November 15, 2001: The city of four counties (Boulder, Adams, Weld, on Washington Avenue demolished. and Jefferson) officially becomes the City and County of Broomfield, 1964: Mt. Lindo Cross, created by withdrawing from Jefferson County. Francis Van Derbur, first lit during June 8, 2002-July 18, 2002: Hayman Fire, one of the largest wildfires in Holy Week. Colorado history, burns southern Jefferson County and Douglas, Park and 1965: Floods hit Clear Creek, Tucker Teller counties, destroying 138,114 acres and 133 homes. Gulch and South Platte, causing major metro area damage. 1972: Jefferson County voters approve a one-half percent sales 1966: Hall of Justice at 18th and tax for Open Space, inaugurating the county’s award winning Arapahoe in Golden completed. Open Space Program. copyright Jefferson County Historical Society

August 1, 1976: Lakewood September 4, 1968: Golden Post Office Heritage Center opens as collapses while under construction, killing 1 Belmar Museum. and injuring 4. 1969: Lakewood incorporated. 1969: Westminster annexed into Jefferson 1986: Detention and Sheriff’s facility completed in Jef- 2011: St. Anthony West Hospital, Jefferson County’s County, including Standley Lake. ferson County Government Center at 200 Jefferson County first major hospital built from scratch in a century, June 17, 1969: Wheat Ridge incorporated. Parkway. completed in Lakewood. June 16, 1987: Deputy Stephen Paul Miller dies in line of copyright Kathryn Ordway duty when helicopter crashes on Scar Top Mountain in Coal Creek Canyon.

Historically Jeffco 2011 35