Articles written by Bert Smith
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The Grand Coulee Dam big-band era
In January 1950, a group of community leaders formed the Grand Coulee Dam Athletic Association to fund community athletic teams. To help provide funding, the association booked... — Updated 8/19/2020
The 1952 Grand Coulee Dam Commemorative Postage Stamp
In August 1933 the Wilbur Commercial Club contacted Washington Senator Clarence Dill proposing a postage stamp commemorating the start of construction at Grand Coulee Dam. This... — Updated 7/8/2020
Crown Point Vista, a forgotten dream
In 1946, a state park at Crown Point was proposed to attract tourists to the Northwest and Grand Coulee Dam. That initial park design showed a 320- by 220-foot state relief model... — Updated 6/24/2020
Scrip and a tragic ballet
Grand Coulee Dam and the Spokane's Golden Jubilee of 1939 The “Great Spokane Fire” occurred on August 4, 1889, destroying 32 downtown city blocks. Exactly 50 years later, Spokane would host the “Golden Jubilee” statehood celebratio... — Updated 6/3/2020
A WWII ship named the "SS COULEE DAM"
With the advent of World War II, Kaiser Industries, part of the Consolidated Builders Inc. that completed the Grand Coulee Dam, began building ships. Kaiser Shipbuilding Company... — Updated 4/22/2020
The lasting legacy of Camp Columbia
As a child growing up in west Coulee Dam, our outdoor playground was built by the toil of young unmarried men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was born out of the... — Updated 2/19/2020
The mystery of the concrete bunker
An abandoned reinforced-concrete bunker, built partially underground, sits atop an isolated granite mountain knob approximately a mile south of the Grand Coulee Dam; approximately... — Updated 2/5/2020
Silas Mason, Grand Coulee Dam and Secretariat
In August 1934, the Silas Mason Company, headquartered in New York City, began building a new "all electric" town next to the Columbia River in eastern Washington State. The town,... — Updated 11/20/2019
There's gold and silver in them thar coulee walls
In the 1930s, the coulee walls behind Electric City and Delano were being prospected for gold and silver. These deposits occurred near the base of the Coulee Wall, in granite,... — Updated 9/18/2019
Thanks for magical weekend
The Coulee Dam All Class Reunion Committee and I would like to thank the Grand Coulee Dam area businesses and residents for hosting our reunion Aug. 5-7. Something very special and almost magical happened that weekend as 500... — Updated 8/24/2016 Full story
