| In
fact, according to history, the first business house in new Denver was a saloon,
built on the corner of Third and Ferry streets, late in 1858 by owners Rice and
Hiffner. It was approximately 8 feet square, made of logs, mud-chinked walls,
sod roof and sod floor and contained no windows. Within the first year, a dozen
other saloons also opened.
Uncle Dick Wooten, famous for his tollgate
on Raton Pass in later years, arrived in Denver with his wife on Christmas morning
1858. His wagons contained a large tent, trade goods, weapons and 10 barrels of
"Taos Lightning," an ill-tasting but potent home-brewed whiskey made of wheat.
By
the time his tent was up and his goods stored inside, about 200 locals had gathered.
He passed out tin cups, knocked the top out of a whiskey barrel and shouted, "Merry
Christmas! The drinks are on the house!" His generosity created the first mass
hangover in the city. Already famous as a scout and Indian fighter, he built a
saloon 30 feet long and 20 feet wide. It was the most imposing building in Denver
at the time.
Of interest, most saloons of the era built their bars along
the left side of the room, believing for some reason, that a man in an unfamiliar
setting, lost or inebriated, will always bear to his left. The construction took
advantage of this natural instinct guiding him quickly to another drink.
Although
glass bottles were used at the bars to provide some class, only corks were available
for capping. Metal caps with crimped edges were not invented until 1892. Almost
all liquor was shipped in wooden barrels then drawn off into bottles after arriving
in the saloon storage rooms.
Colorado voted itself dry four years before
Prohibition arrived in 1918. The word "saloon" in now illegal for use in Colorado
and would require an amendment to the State Constitution to make it legal.
©
Delbert Trew
"It's All Trew" January
25, 2011 column
Delbert Trew is a freelance writer and retired rancher. He
can be reached at 806-779-3164, by mail at Box A, Alanreed, TX 79002, or by e-mail
at trewblue@centramedia.net. For books see DelbertTrew.com. His column appears
weekly.
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