We can’t celebrate progress or community without being honest about where we’ve fallen short. Any conversation about race in Golden has to acknowledge the full story. In the 1920s, Golden was a center of Ku Klux Klan activity in Colorado — a painful chapter that shaped who was welcomed here, and who wasn’t.

But alongside that history are stories of resilience, entrepreneurship, and creativity. In honor of Black History Month, here are three early Black Goldenites whose contributions deserve to be remembered. These names come from a 2021 article titled Celebrating Black History: Three Early Black Goldenites, which was published by Colorado Community Media.

John Tolliver escaped slavery in Missouri and opened a barber shop on Washington Avenue in 1868. He later launched Golden’s first public bathhouse and built a home along Ralston Creek, becoming one of the town’s earliest self-made business owners.

In the CCM article, Golden historian Richard Gardner says, “If folks ever come up with an award for self-made businesspeople of Jefferson County, I’d very much encourage naming it after him, you do not get more self-made than him. It’s quite an inspiring story.”

I’d agree. To learn more about Tolliver, check out pages 21-22 of Historically Jeffco, Issue 42, 2021. There are some cool old photos as well.

Tolliver died on October 13, 1922, at the county hospital in Fort Collins at age 107. Living far beyond the expected lifespan of someone born into slavery, he became the oldest known resident of Golden, Denver, and Jefferson County, and as of 2021, that record remained unmatched in Golden.

George Robinson settled in Golden in 1884 after journeying west on foot. He worked at Foss Drug and was credited with saving the Linder Block from a devastating fire.

From the Golden Transcript in the 19th century: “There was a narrow escape from a serious fire in the Linder Block Monday evening … they were quickly subdued by a tube of the Swan Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher in the hands of that agile, cool-headed, handsome gentleman of complexion, George Robinson. But for his prompt action the destruction of the block and adjoining buildings was inevitable.”

When he died in 1931, he was buried in an unmarked grave in the Golden Cemetery — a headstone was added decades later through community efforts.

George Morrison, a prominent swing musician in Denver’s jazz scene, performed in Golden in the 1940s, including at the Golden Opera House (which used to be above Ace Hi Tavern). Despite racial barriers of the time, he built a career that reached well beyond Colorado.

Black History Month is a chance to honor the people who helped shape this community. I’m grateful to the local historians who’ve done the careful work of preserving these stories so they’re not lost.

Moment of honesty…the last time I posted about this class, I completely misjudged it. I assumed it was the kind of class you take when you’re older, wiser, and trying to engineer a tidy arc to your life story, distilling your hard-won learnings into inspirational quotes for the next generation.

But then I found out a friend younger than me took this class last year after learning about it in The Goose (humble brag), and I was agog (fancy word to prove I can write too 😂)!

I’d met up with her after her final class, and she raved about it. So I asked her if she’d kindly write up a lil something about her experience for the flock, and she put it beautifully.

If you need any more convincing, here’s the class description:

Writing a memoir may be the most challenging and consequential writing we will ever do. We think we know ourselves well enough to write about our lives, but the effort seems daunting, and its value dubious. After all, how do we begin to choose which stories to tell from all the days and years? And who cares? First of all, no life is ordinary. No life is without miracles and magic, great loss and great love. And probably no life is more crucial for our children to understand then ours, because they share more than our genetics, they share our spiritual DNA. What made us who we are, helps them see who they can become. In that sense, we leave them with more than stories. We leave them with meaning and hope.

This class begins Wednesday, March 4 and runs for four weeks. Join me! Sign up or learn more ➡ here.

“Don’t Let Ice Numb You”
“Justice for Victims”

Wanted to share some art I came across Saturday morning on the bridge linking Illinois Street. Thank you to the artist. Art like this matters.

Film is art too. This weekend I checked out the 20th Colorado Environmental Film Festival on Friday and left feeling unexpectedly hopeful. Three inspiring films, a strong community that’s kept this festival going for 20 years, and a reminder that people are doing brave, beautiful work — both in front of the camera and behind it. If you have the chance to go next year, I highly recommend it. It offers a sense of hope at a time when the world can feel especially heavy.

Golden has its First Annual Comfort & Comedy Festival starting today! For two weeks (February 23 - March 8), the festival brings “national comedic acts, local improv, stand-up, workshops, and warmth to downtown.”

There are several great shows in the list, taking place at Miners Alley, Gnarly’s, and Buffalo Rose. To see the COMPLETE list, head to the Miners Alley events site here. Below are just a few…

Nominate your favorite local business or volunteer - Takes 2 minutes. I know because I nominated my favorite business…but I’ll never tell!! Five categories, and you can submit the form multiple times to nominate for each category if you’d like. It’s the easiest way to help a business out! Sponsored by the Golden Chamber of Commerce.

Triathlon Training for Beginners Starting 3/30 - In this 8 week program… “You will finesse your swimming, cycling, and running skills while building endurance for sprint and Olympic distance triathlon races.” Heck yeah!! Love this.

2026 State of the City on March 5 - “Join the City of Golden and the Golden Chamber of Commerce at the Golden Community Center for the 2026 State of the City on Thursday, March 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.”

Get yo Pickleball or Softball on! - Signups for Adult Pickleball & Softball are open at the Rec Center, but spots are going like hotcakes! (What a hotcake, btw?) Or check out 5×5×5 Softball Demo or Sandlot Baseball Spring Training for kiddos 7-12.

⏰ Reminder: Sunday, March 8 is Daylight Savings ⏰

Reminders:
Registration is now open for Rooted Beginnings Preschool - “Formerly known as the GCC preschool program, Rooted Beginnings reflects a renewed focus on nurturing curiosity, confidence, and connection through play-based learning, outdoor exploration, and early childhood development.”

Apply for a City Board or Commission - “The City of Golden is now accepting applications for vacancies on several City boards, commissions, and authorities. These volunteer bodies play an important role in advising City Council and shaping policies that impact our community.” Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026.