TRUMAN

____________

GALLERIES INDEX

____________

Banks, Walgren, Truman, June 9, 1948

President Truman Views Grand Coulee Dam from Highway Bridge, June 9, 1948.
Left to righ: Frank A Banks, Columbia River District Manager; Mon C Wallgren,
Washington State Governor; Harry S Truman, President of United States.
Photo from Gayleen Green collection

Two years later, President Truman again visited the Grand Coulee dam for its dedication.  Here is a link to the text of his address:  Address at the Dedication of the Grand Coulee Dam.  May 11, 1950

Before Henry & Margaret Taschereau bought the grocery store in Coulee City, they owned this service
station in Coulee Dam.  The person standing by the car is either my mother or my aunt Pat.
USBR photo, c. 1945

A postcard made from the previous print

Truman's motorcade approaching from the east.

Truman's car driving toward the bridge, June 9, 1948, taken by Henry Taschereau from the driveway of the service station above

June 9, 1948: Truman's motorcade stops on the bridge below my father's service station for the above photo op. 

undated mid-1940's view of the top of Grand Coulee Dam from the east.  USBR photo

High water. June, 1948.  O'Donnell Photo.

Grand Coulee Dam during flood. 36 million gallons per minute.
The torrent damaged the dam's underwater flip bucket at its base. The spillway was designed like a ski jump. Water falling down the face of the dam was turned up at the base, dispersing its energy in the process. In 1948, however, the water was too much for the bucket and also river banks downstream all the way to the Pacific. Near Portland, the flood wiped out the town of Vanport. The flood of ’48 indicated the need to work with Canada in flood control of the river upstream from Grand Coulee Dam. The Columbia River Treaty followed in 1960, and Canadian dams were built.

High water. June, 1948.  O'Donnell Photo.

USBR photo, May 7, 1948. -- 17179-3

Bureau of Reclamation employee, Sam J. Seaton is an early pioneer of the Grand Coulee Area, dating back to 1888, when he came westward with his parents from Missouri, where he was born in 1886.  The right abutment of Grand Coulee was constructed on land that once comprised part of Sam's 315-acre homestead.  Sam started operating a ferry in 1920 across the Columbia on the site now occupied by Grand Coulee Dam.

The same station shown above in Sept. 1942, before my parents bought it.

postcard from late 40's.