The Internet. It destroys almost as many myths as it creates. It was common knowledge among the populace of Washington for many years that untold number of workers are entombed in the vast structure of Grand Coulee Dam. I remember kids telling each other with ghoulish glee that once a worker fell, his cohorts were powerless to save him, or stop the immense, relentless cascade of wet cement.
Great story. Imagine my relief and disappointment to find that this never happened.
Yes, several workers did perish during Grand Coulee's construction, but nobody was trapped in wet cement. It turns out this didn't even start with Grand Coulee -- It started with an accident during the construction of Hoover Dam some years earlier. The tale later migrated to Washington.
Even in the original story, nobody was really trapped -- It turns out the cement pours were done in many shallow layers. Plus, it doesn't really help the structural integrity of a dam to wall up a bunch of dead guys. Go figure.
Still, I had to make this picture to commemorate a simpler, creepier time.
Great story. Imagine my relief and disappointment to find that this never happened.
Yes, several workers did perish during Grand Coulee's construction, but nobody was trapped in wet cement. It turns out this didn't even start with Grand Coulee -- It started with an accident during the construction of Hoover Dam some years earlier. The tale later migrated to Washington.
Even in the original story, nobody was really trapped -- It turns out the cement pours were done in many shallow layers. Plus, it doesn't really help the structural integrity of a dam to wall up a bunch of dead guys. Go figure.
Still, I had to make this picture to commemorate a simpler, creepier time.
CK
