Finally, they believe him about that little dam

Here is a story you may find interesting:

I grew up on Roosevelt Drive in Grand Coulee. There was a nice pool in Mason City (Coulee Dam) just a little ways past the bridge. It cost a quarter to get into the pool to swim and cool off.

Around 1951 or so, when I was around 10 years old, on some hot summer days, I would beg a quarter from my mother and walk all the way to the pool — about 3 miles.

I walked down Martin Road, past the sewage pond, Weaver’s gas station, the Silver Dollar Tavern, and Dover’s Cafe to the main highway and then toward the dam.

As I approached the dam, on the right side of the road was some buildings, always closed up. One of them as I recall was a single-story building with no windows and a roll-up garage-type door, always closed.

One day as I was walking by, I noticed the roll-up door was open about a foot or so. I thought I’d better walk over and check it out. The partially open door let in just enough light to illuminate the inside.

As I peered under the door, I could make out an object that looked exactly like the dam! Only a heck of a lot smaller. I squeezed under the door and was completely amazed at what I was looking at — a miniature Grand Coulee Dam.

I couldn’t believe it. I spent probably 15 minutes there in awe and then crawled back out. As I was walking back towards the highway, a couple of federal guards — I think it was Mr. Thomas and Mr. Lucas — came down driving by, spotted me, and asked me what I was doing there. I told them I was walking to the pool. They were kind enough to drive me the rest of the way down the hill past the dam and the Green Hut cafe to the pool.

Here’s the kicker — wherever I would tell a childhood friend or an adult about there’s a little dam in that building, I’d get scoffed at.

Now thanks to The Star newspaper, Dave Finch, Kevin Hassey, and Keith St. Jeor, people believed what I told them — “there’s a little dam in that building.”

Thank you,

Harvey Haven

Woodland, Wash.

hlhaven@tos.ne