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Despite the persistent rain on May 30, 1894, Boulder attempted Memorial Day celebrations in typical fashion. Parades and marches to the cemeteries were called off because of the weather, but festivities were brought indoors to the courthouse and everyone still had a good time. The Boulder University Club gamely attempted to complete its scheduled baseball game against the Denver Athletic Club, but after Boulder grabbed a 14-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning there was no point in continuing. Still, good spirits prevailed; farmers enjoyed a respite from their springtime work, and miner received a rare Wednesday off.
The University of Colorado’s commencement proceedings heightened the holiday mood. The university’s first class of medical students received their degrees the previous evening, and the general body of graduates would receive their diplomas the following day. On graduation eve, a packed house enjoyed a special concert by Madame and Signor Sobrino and Professor Paul Stoeving.
In the mountains above Boulder, mining towns marked the holiday with equal relish. Jamestown (affectionately known locally as Jimtown), riding the success of the Golden Age mine, took on “quite a metropolitan look,” and now boasted its own dressmaker shop, bakery, laundry and ice cream parlor. On the farmland east of Boulder, the spring rains promised a good start to the growing season.
But there was something different about this rainstorm. It went on steadily through the day and into the night, saturating the ground and choking streams that, after heavy winter snows, were already swollen with spring runoff. At around ten o'clock, some folks noticed that Boulder Creek was quickly rising, and with the rain still coming down the threat of a flood became serious. Some worried whether the Beasley Ditch headgate of would hold the rising water.
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