As First Told by George West
Published in the Western Mountaineer,
December 28, 1859
The Christmas Ball,Which came off on Friday evening last at Loveland's new hall, as we predicted, proved a complete success. There was a large company present, including a greater number of ladies than we have seen together in the Territory before, on any occasion. There were several ladies and gentlemen present from Denver and Auraria, Boulder, Arapahoe and other places, in all fifty couples, and every one seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion, and to exert themselves to make the evening pass pleasantly. We were much pleased to see the kindly feeling manifested by the ladies and gentlemen of our own city, towards the guests from abroad, each vieing with the other in making the occasion one of pleasure.
The Loveland Building (right) - Loveland Hall in
upper floor
Present-day location of 1105 Washington Avenue
Built 1859, Destroyed in 1922
Photo courtesy Richard A. Ronzio Collection, Golden
Historical Collection
THE HALL, which is yet in an unfinished state, was elaborately trimmed with evergreens, tastefully arranged in festoons and arches, and had a very fine effect.
Celtic fiddling was the first music ever played
in Golden.
Accomplished early Golden musicians included Buz Cavan,
Ed Jones, left-hander George Nelson, McDuffee, and Ackley.
THE MUSIC, by McDuffee and Ackley, was superior. Charley was in his glory, and kept the company in the best of humor. Long may he wave.
Mark Leonardo Blunt
Boston Company member, 1860 Golden Postmaster
This is likely how he looked at Golden's 1st Christmas
party.
Photo courtesy Denver Post
(In frontier times, Golden was considered a star place for dancing parties like our first Christmas celebration. High-rollers of the day who partied here included John Titus, Jim Ward, John Russell, Bill Switzer, Tom Crippen, Jim Boutwell, Mott Johnson, Jonas Wannamaker, Jim Boyd, Edward Berthoud, Dr. James Kelly, Cord Brainard, Duncan E. Harrison Charley Judkins, and others from Golden; Denver fellows who never missed a Golden dance included David Moffat, George Kasslar, George Tritch, Mayor Amos Steck, Tom Clayton, Detective Dave Cook, Sam Dorsey, Frank Kram, Jim Weir, John Scudder, Joe Brown, William Byers, Ed Bliss and more. Party goers, according to George West, were rigged out with "revolvers buckled about their waists and a big knife in their right boot-leg," and often dressed in buckskin. Not to be outdone, the ladies, dressed in calico, turned out with just as much zest as the men. Popular ladies at our dances included the Smiths, Moores, Hendricksons, Boyds, Brainards, McCleerys, Judkins, and the Thortons. John Lewis was well-known as an early prompter who led our celebrations.)
THE MANAGERS were indefatigable in their endeavors to make the party agreeable, and spared no pains to give satisfaction to every one, and we believe were eminently successful; but the great feature of the ball was
The hotel of William J. McKay (center), present-day
1108 Washington Avenue
Built in 1859, Destroyed by fire in 1907
Photo courtesy Golden Pioneer Museum
(McKay's daughter, Tahosa, was among the first children born in Golden. The McKay family moved to the Wheat Ridge area in 1860, and the area's early name of Tahosa Precinct may have been because of her. The name is supposedly an Indian word meaning "dwellers of the mountaintops".)
THE SUPPER, which was provided by Mr. Wm. J. McKay. His table was provided with all the delicacies that could possibly be obtained in the country. If we had room we would give the bill of fare entire, but suffice it to say that his tables literally groaned beneath their load; they were, however, soon relieved, and we heard but one voice, which was that of unqualified praise.
In short the whole affair was one of unalloyed pleasure. The company separated at an early hour (in the morning,) and at the next ball at Loveland's may we be there to see!