Golden Transcript

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Golden Transcript
Type Weekly newspaper
Format Tabloid

Owner Mile High Newspapers
Publisher Scott Perriman
Editor Betta Ferrendelli
Founded December 19, 1866
Headquarters 110 North Rubey Drive
Suite 120
Golden, CO 80401
Flag of the United States United States

Website: milehighnews.com

The Golden Transcript is the third oldest newspaper in Colorado, behind the Rocky Mountain News and Central City Register-Call. It is published by Mile High Newspapers in Golden, Colorado.

[edit] Newspaper history

This newspaper was established as the Colorado Transcript in Golden on December 19, 1866. It was begun by George West, one of the founding fathers of Golden, who came west as leader of the Boston Company during the Colorado Gold Rush in 1859. West began his journalistic career as an apprentice of the newspaper of Claremont, New Hampshire, continuing as a journalist at the Boston Transcript. After coming west, he fortuitously helped William N. Byers publish the first extra edition of the Rocky Mountain News on June 10, 1859, and then established Colorado's fourth newspaper, the Western Mountaineer, in Golden on December 4, 1859. After that newspaper ceased operating in 1860, West fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War, and resumed his journalistic career as local editor of the News in 1865. With money West saved he established Colorado's eighth newspaper, and Golden's third newspaper, in 1866. He named it the Transcript after his old newspaper in Boston.

Originally a weekly, the Transcript would continue publishing along this line for a century. Its founder remained at the helm for 40 years, a remarkable accomplishment in Colorado journalism, until his death in 1906. An ardent Democrat, West used his paper often to promote Democratic candidates and causes. He also was a tireless promoter of Golden and constantly reported on and encouraged its growth and progress. Upon his death it passed to his son, Harley Dean West, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, and it remained in the West family for some years. During the 1960s the newspaper became a twice-weekly, three days a week, and finally a daily newspaper, publishing on weekdays throughout the 1970s. It resumed being twice weekly in the 1980s, and resumed being a weekly in the 2000s. Through the years the Transcript outlasted skilled and serious competition, including the Golden Globe (1872-1919); Jefferson County Republican (1919-46); and Golden Outlook (1940s-90s).

The Golden Transcript carries the remarkable distinction of having never missed an edition throughout its publishing history. This has been accomplished despite such events as a major paper shortage that caused it to print on single sheets of wrapping paper in 1869 and a fire that struck it as a daily in 1978. As of December 20, 2007, the Transcript has published 10,727 total issues.

[edit] Homes of the Transcript

The Golden Transcript has been headquartered at five locations:

  • Boston Building - 1005 Washington Avenue, Golden (1866-67, now destroyed)
  • Loveland Block - 1225 Washington Avenue, Golden (1867-70, second building of that name, now destroyed)
  • Transcript Building - 1115 Washington Avenue, Golden (1870-1967)
  • Transcript Building - 1000 10th Street, Golden (1967-2007)
  • ClickData Building - 110 North Rubey Drive, Golden (2007-Today)

In 1978 the Hesteds Building (1225 Washington Avenue, now destroyed) became the emergency quarters from which the Transcript was published after its headquarters was damaged by fire on November 4, 1978. Ironically, the paper was printed on the exact same site as its second home.

[edit] Other Transcript newspapers

Through time companion editions of the Transcript have been published by its creators. These include Golden's original daily edition, reporting on the Colorado Territorial Legislature, published from 1866-67; the Denver edition, published in 1875; the Jefferson County edition, published in the 1980s-90s; and the Wheat Ridge edition, still published today. These are considered distinct publications apart from the original Transcript.[[Category:Weekly newspapers published in the United States]