Golden's
Arch-Legacy from Holland family
April 9, 1987
Ruth M. White
Reputedly the most photographed
attraction in Golden is the giant arch in the 1100
block of Washington Avenue. Written in an unusual
script that would tax the talents of a skilled
calligrapher is the message:
Howdy Folks!
Welcome to Golden
Where the West lives!
A plaque on the metal frame that
supports the arch states that it was presented to
the Golden Chamber of Commerce in 1950 by Lu and
Ethel Holland. The Hollands (both deceased) were the
owners of Holland House, still known throughout
metro Denver for its cuisine and western
hospitality. Bill Holland, remembers his father, Lu,
as a fine chef and a good business man who had
studied the art of preparing excellent foods under a
German chef.
The Hollands had owned the Pine Grove
Restaurant in Denver, which Bill remembers as a
magnificent restaurant with a seating capacity of
700 people on one floor.
About the time World War II came to a
close, Lu learned that a small hotel in Golden
needed some help. He approached the owner and asked
if he could help put the business back on its feet.
Lu was put in charge of the food and bar, and the
restaurant became a busy place.
Three or four
months later Lu bought
the hotel, and named it
the Holland House. The
Hollands often worked 16 to
18 hours a day. Tourists
from all over the country
ate there. Denverites rode
the Galloping Goose, a tramway
that ran between Denver and
Golden, to spend an
evening at the Restaurant. Bill
remembers his mother, Ethel,
as a warm, caring woman who
loved people and was,
in turn, loved by those
who worked in the
restaurant and the customers
who returned over and
over again for food, drink
and hospitality. "My mother
never forgot a name or a
face," said Bill.
Over the years the
Holland House was remodeled
several times. When the
Methodist Church was looking
for a place in which
to expand, Lu traded
some land on Ford
Street, where the church still
stands, for the land
where the church was located.
The original church land
became the parking lot
for Holland House.
Lu and Ethel wanted
to extend the warm
welcome and hospitality of
Golden to the many
visitors who traveled through
the little town each year.
As president of the
chamber of commerce, Lu
proposed and funded the
Golden Arch, which was
resplendent with neon lights
that could be seen from
one end of town to
the other.
Bill did not
remember the exact date,
but at one time, the
sign was redone. The lights
were taken down, and the
bottom line was changed
from "Where the West
remains!" to "Where the
West lives!" Many of the
older residents liked the
first version better.
Because the lettering
was so unique, the
only way to rewrite the
sign as it originally
was was to copy old
photographs, said Bill.
There has been some
talk of moving the
sign from the 1100 block
to the 1900 block of
Washington. However, the
move was not considered
a high priority by a recent
Citizens Action Team.
The sign could have
been placed in front
of the Holland House, but
Lu wanted it where
people could see it as
they entered town from
either direction, said Bill.
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