By Colleen Palumbo
Recently, we were away for the weekend and as we started to get closer to Golden I was overcome with a feeling of contentment.
There’s just something comforting about coming home.
The following is an article about Golden, from The Golden Era newspaper, December 7, 1895.
Distance, like time, frequently exalts the insignificant into importance and reduces the important to insignificance. For all interests, or whom it is desirable to 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 business man whose name appears in this issue. In view of the fact that this issue is designed for general circulation, we propose to give, 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 immorality of its own and exerts some influence, greater or less, as the case may be. In the business “write-ups” we have the condensed results to 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 Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., 1007 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 in this part of the province; and is the commercial metropolis of Eastern British Columbia.
The homes of Golden will compare favourably – artistically and architecturally – with many eastern towns. These homes are not only models of comfort and convenience but are homes in the deepest, noblest, truest sense of the term.
As a summer resort, Golden might bud with success for popular favour. The country is replete with romantic scenery, interesting drives, delightful boating and sailing, good fishing and hunting, shady retreats, excellent camping grounds, while a trip on the Columbia will ever afford a pleasant remembrance. The rivers teem with fish, the valley with the feathered tribe, while to the more venturesome a trip into the mountain will result in the capture of the large game. The rivers and mountains abound in legendary lore sufficient to furnish the quasi-historian food for reflection for a life time.
Golden is indeed a jewel set in a fold and silvered mounting as miners in the surrounding and tributary mountainous country are rapidly being developed and will soon become world famous producers.
Good society goes a long way toward making contentment. The country was settled by men and enterprisers, and education. Nowhere is there better society. The gentlemen or ladies who think of coming here to “outshine” the natives, will find that Golden is up to Winnipeg or Victoria in the standard of excellence. If you are all right and worth association well come anyway and take a look at our town. Every minute is pleasanter to endure here than east or south.
Stick by Golden and you will share in her general prosperity. She shines like a sapphire on the swelling bosom of the richest stretch of country the sun ever shone upon. Happy is the lot of the dweller within her gates, fortunate is the possessor of an enterprise in her midst; for his prosperity is assure.
Sounds like home to me.