30 years ago – July 4, 1986
The Fifth Annual Gilpin County Mining and Milling Festival was held in Black Hawk last Saturday and Sunday. The activities began on Saturday with a parade and the customary dynamite blast. A number of locals participated in the parade as well as several candidates campaigning for various political offices. Chocolate Dan Monroe, local historian, told the audience about the history of mining and milling in Gilpin including the first discovery of gold in the 1800s. Pat Wendleton, a resident of Gilpin County, introduced a number of candidates. Each of the candidates who attended the festival gave a brief speech to those in attendance. The activities continued throughout the day Saturday and all day on Sunday. This year’s festival included gold panning demonstrations, hard rock drilling, live entertainment, and arts and crafts booths. Food and beverages were available for everyone’s enjoyment.
If anyone wanted gas or to stop for groceries at the Kwik Mart Convenience Store in Black Hawk on Sunday, he would have seen that the parking lot was packed with motorcyclists. The large group stopped in town for gas, supplies, and food before continuing on a journey to Longmont. In all, over 1,000 motorcyclists participated in the Third Annual Freedom Run from Denver to Longmont to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. The ride was sponsored by Freed Harley-Davidson, Inc., of Denver. It was one of the largest single fund raising events in the country for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, other than the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon. The event raised over $150,000 during the three hour excursion.
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