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                                   STEP INTO THE PAST

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  This is one of 12 books about the first gold mine town in Colorado and the people who have lived there. Gold was discovered in 1859 by a group of prospectors. It was first found in a creek in Denver. A group of men followed the creek up to the town of Boulder where they camped. Then it was on up the creeks to the Gold Hill area.                                                History

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In March 1922, Mrs. Margaret Smith invited about 15 ladies, former neighbors of Gold Hill, to her home for a tea to discuss ways and means of remedying, what they all felt was a deplorable situation, the run down condition of the cemetery of Gold Hill.

The women realized the necessity for action and they immediately made careful plans.

A committee was chosen to get in touch with every one interested. The committee appointed was Nellie Walton, Minnie Barnett, and Margaret Smith, and the results of the committee was that each person pledge one dollar and a very nice sum was raised.

These ladies held several meetings irregularly for over a year, then Mrs. Headley suggested organizing a club, which was met with approval.
Mrs. Minnie Barnett invited all residents, and former residents of Gold Hill, to her home at 16th and Water and a large number responded. After singing a song, Mrs. Barnett asked Mrs. Millie Lee to lead in prayer.

The business meeting was called to order by Minnie Barnett. She explained why they had met to organize a club. They took a vote and the Gold Hill Club was organized.

Mrs. Margaret Smith was asked to be president but she declined. There was election of officers as follows: Millie Lee, President; Martha Leibee, Vice President; Mrs. Ingolds, Secretary and Treasurer.

At this meeting the charter members were: Margaret Smith, Lula Kirkbride, Julia Gustafson, Kate Headly, Nellie Walton, Blanche Swallow, Jessie Coughlin, Mary Pitman, Mrs. Hastings, Anna Goudge, Mrs. Ingolds, Nellie Humphrey, Martha Leibee, Minnie Barnett, Rose Dalley, Mable McLellan, Millie Lee, Eliza Frances, Mary Peterson, Maud Scogland, and Mary Harris.

A motion was made and seconded to have the first meeting in October as our anniversary date each year. It was voted on and carried.

A week later we held our meeting at the home of Mrs. Ingolds.

The meeting was called to order by the President, Millie Lee, by singing "America", followed by the "Lord's Prayer." A motion was made and carried that we meet once a month on the 4th Thursday.

We decided at this meeting to have a cover dish supper ten days later. The committee appointed were: Millie Lee, Chairman of the supper; Nellie Walton, Chairman of the entertainment; Martha Leibee, Chairman of the music. The supper was held in the Masonic Hall. All residents and former residents of Gold Hill were invited and a large number responded to the invitation. After supper there was a program and dancing. The club met during the year by invitation from the members to their homes.

During the year, several new members joined the Club, and we had a shower for Myrtle Barnett.
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Charter Members of the Gold Hill Club

                  Ruth Vanderpoel

In March of 1922 some of the Gold Hill ladies met to discuss ways to improve the appearance of the Gold Hill Cemetery. This group later became the Gold Hill Club. These are the ladies that met on that day in 1922 and a bit of their relationships:

Minnie Barnett ( age 35), Mrs. James, nee Mayer - She was the daughter of Nick and Minnie (Wilamina) Mayer, early Gold Hill residents from Germany. Her mother-in-law was the sister of Eliza Francis.

Jessie Coughlin (age 46), Mrs. Daniel, nee Hastings - She was the daughter of Henry and Emily Hastings who came to Gold Hill from New Hampshire. She had two sisters (Mrs. Swallow and Mrs. Pittman) and her mother (Mrs. Hastings) who was at the meeting. Daniel Coughlin was the son of John Coughlin and Ellen Tobin. John was born in 1840 in County Cork, Ireland.

Rose Dalley (age 57), Mrs. Mark, nee Carlin - She was the daughter of Owen and Mary Gillick Carlin who came to Colorado from Ireland. Rose was born in Colorado in 1864. She had a sister (Mrs. Peterson) at the meeting. Mark Dalley was also born in Colorado in 1864 and had two daughters with Gold Hill connections. Mabel Dalley was the wife of Alex McLellan and she was present at the meeting. Lottie Dalley was the wife of John Coughlin, Jr. The brother of Daniel Coughlin, and they were the parents of present day Gold Hill Club member, Glen Coughlin.

Eliza Francis (age 71), Mrs. James, nee Williams - She was born in Cornwall, England in 1851 to Cornelius and Mary Ann Williams. Her sister Mary A. Williams married William Barnett and they were the parents of James Barnett. Her brother James married Martha Dalley who was Mark Dalley’s sister. She married William Todd, who was born in Livesay, England in 1843. In Michigan they had eleven children. Two of her children were at the meeting, Mrs. Mary Harris and Mrs. Millie Lee.

Annie Goudge (age 64), Mrs. Edwin nee Bennett - She was born in 1857 in St. Blaizie, Cornwall. She had two daughters at the meeting. Mrs. Martha Leibee and Mrs. Nellie Humphrey. She and her husband owned the present day Blue Bird Lodge.
Julia Gustafson (age 45), Mrs. Charles nee Hammer - Her parents were from Norway. She was born in Colorado and her husband was born in Sweden. He was a miner.

Mary Harris (age 54), Mrs. William, nee Todd - She was a daughter of Eliza Francis. Her husband was born in England about 1859.

Emily Hastings (age 74), Mrs. Henry, nee McAllister - She was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire in 1848. Her husband, Henry, was born in Vermont and fought with the 7t Vermont Infantry during the civil war. She had three daughters at the meeting. Jessie Coughlin, Mary Pittman, and Blanch Swallow.

Kate Headley (age 68), Mrs. Frank, nee Griswold - She was born in 1853 in Iowa. Her husband was brought to Gold Hill by his mother when his father was killed in Nevadaville. Franks mother married a Mr. Wells who wan a hotel in Gold Hill.

Nellie Humphrey (age 42), Mrs. Charles Stanley, nee Goudge - Her mother, Annie Goudge, and her sister, Martha Liebee, were at the meeting. Her husband’s father was a famous drilling champion. Her husband’s mother, Lettie, married John Morey after Mr. Humphrey died.

Jacqueline D. Ingold (age 44), Mrs. John, nee ???? = John Ingold was a miner in Gold Hill. The had two children, Harold and Jacqueline.

Lula Kirkbride (age 44), Mrs. John W., nee Thurlow - Lula was the daughter of Albion Thurlow, a famous veteran of the civil war. He visited her in Boulder when he was 89 in 1931. John Kirkbride was the son of George Kirkbride who had a store in Gold Hill. John’s sister Mary Parker Kirkbride married Frank Boyd.

Millie Lee (age 45), Mrs. Samuel C., nee Todd - Elizabeth Amelia Todd was born in 1876 in Caribou, Colorado. Her mother, Eliza Francis, and her sister, Mary Harris, were at the meeting. Samuel Lee was a Gold Hill miner who was born in 1869 in Cornwall, England.


Martha Leibee (age 440, nee Goudge - She was the daughter of Edwin and Annie Goudge. Her mother and sister, Nellie Humphrey, were at the meeting. She had previously been married to a Mr. Abbott and John Richards.

Mabel McLellan (age 38), Mrs. Alex, nee Dalley - She was the daughter of Rose (present at the meeting) and Mark Dalley. Alex McLellan was the son of Allen McLellan who was born in Nova Scotia in 1854 and came to Colorado as a pioneer.

Mary Peterson (age 64), Mrs. Joel, nee Carlin - She was the sister of Rose Dalley.

Mary Pittman 9 Age 52), Mrs. James, nee Hastings - she was the daughter of Henry and Emily Hastings (at the meeting) and sister to Jessie Coughlin and Blanch Swallow, both at the meeting.

Maud Scogland (age 50), Mrs. Albert, nee Colvin - She had children: Albert Jr., Helen, John, Carl and Glen.

Margaret Smith (age 38), Mrs. Edward, nee Lowe - Her son, Joe, later became a County Commissioner of Boulder County.

Blanch Swallow (age 37), Mrs. Curtis, nee Hastings - She was the daughter of Henry and Emily Hastings (at the meeting) and sister to Jessie Coughlin at the meeting. Curtis Swallow was the son of William and Laura Bell.

Nellie Walton (age 42), Mrs. Benett, nee Strock - She was the daughter of Frank and Harriett Strock. He was the Son of Leonard Walton and Elizabeth Rule.
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