Golden – 1895

From the Golden News, January 26, 2000

Yesterday’s News – Museum Memoirs by Colleen Palumbo

This article came originally from the newspaper called the Golden Era and was written for the December 7, 1895 issue of the paper.

Golden – The Progressive Commercial Metropolis of Eastern, B.C. – A brief Resume of the Advantages, Attractions, Resources and Possibilities of the Future.

Opportunities For Engaging in Mining, Lumbering, Farming, Ranching, or Certain Lines of Retail, Commercial, Enterprize are Unexcelled.

Distance, like time, frequently exalts the insignificant into importance and reduces the important to insignificant. For all interest, this sketch is intended. In an article Of this character, only the more important matters have been spoken of, while matters of minor importance have received only cursory attention or have been passed in silence. An application for more detailed information, will, no doubt be promptly answered by addressing any light businessman whose name appears in this issue. In review of the fact that this issue is designed for general circulation, we propose to give, as briefly and concisely as possible, some of the advantages, attractions, and resources of Golden. Whether we shall succeed in bringing new citizens, mechanics, manufacturers, miners, farmers, or ranchers to this locality or not, we are still conscious of the fact that any write-up once printed and given to the world is never lost, but enters upon a sort of immortality of its own and exerts some influence, greater or loss, as the case may be. In the business write-ups we have the condensed results of years of experience, and the newcomer, using them as a criterion cannot possibly go astray. Golden is a prosperous, enterprising town located in the eastern part of British Columbia, near the confluence of the kicking horse and Columbia rivers. The town is on the main line of the sea… 1000 and seven miles from Winnipeg and 475 miles from Vancouver. It is the initial terminal for the steamboat transportation company and the stage lines to the mining districts on this part of the province, and is the commercial metropolis of eastern British Columbia.

The churches English, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Methodist are sustained by large and enthusiastic congregations who worship in substantial church edifices.

A lodge of the independent order of Odd Fellows has a large membership.

The homes of Golden will compare favorably artistically and architecturally with many eastern towns. These homes are not only models of comfort and convenience but our homes, homes in the deepest, noblest, truest sense of the term.

The hospital here is partially supported by the provincial government and by the local citizens and is one of the most meritous and worthy enterprises in the district it is superintended by skillful medical practitioners who have the best interest of the institution at heart.

A curling rink offers recreative amusement to lovers of the “roaring game,” while the skating rink is well patronized by the youth and beauty of Golden.

As a summer resort Golden might bid with success for popular favor. The country is replete with romantic scenery, interesting driver, delightful boating and sailing, good fishing and hunting, shady retreats, and excellent camping grounds, while a trip on the Columbia will ever afford a pleasant remembrance. The river teams with fish, the valleys with the feathered tribe, while to the more venturesome a trip into the mountains will result in the capture of large game. The rivers and mountains also abound in legendary lower sufficient to furnish the quash historian food for reflection for a lifetime.

There is no better criterion to judge of the progress and culture of a community than is to be found in an examination of its educational resources. In this respect Golden has kept full pace with her progress in other lines, and there is no town of her size in the province possessing a better system of Education than is to be found here. The instructions afforded are amply practical, great attention being paid to the preparation of pupils for entrance into that greatest schools in the world. The public school system is under the most excellent management.

Scarcely a vacant office, store or house is to be found in town.