Go To The Source and Questions to Consider:
Hermiston Herald article, "Depot Brings Dramatic Changes to Town," Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998
How did building the munitions depot change the community of Hermiston?
Donna Fuzi, depot employee for 18 years, discusses the 1944 blast
In what ways does this oral history add to the story of the 1944 accident?
Speech of Walter M. Pierce in the House of Representatives, 1939
What are the justifications for a dam at the Umatilla Rapids? What is the relationship
between McNary Dam and Bonneville Dam, according to Walter M. Pierce?
How does Mr. Pierce negate any objections to the dam?
Hermiston Heraldarticle, March 5, 1953 - Group Seeks Full Utilization of McNary Features"
Why did the Umatilla Rapids Association form in the 1920s, according to Elmer Dodd? Did they achieve their goals?
"McNary Dam Past, Present and Future" In the Sage Hen, McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
Why did the river closure at McNary Dam gain national attention?
"McNary Lock Opens with Ceremony" in the Sage Hen, McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
In what ways was the opening of McNary Lock sensationalized?
"Progress Motion Pictures at McNary Dam" in the Sage Hen, McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What kinds of films did the Army Corps of Engineers produce?
"High-Lights And Gutter-Shots" in the Sage Hen, McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What does this article tell you about physical methods of dam construction? What does it say about work and community?
"Control of the River" - from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Report
How did the Corps of Engineers manipulate the river during construction?
Do you think the river can be controlled?
"Construction" in "The Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What justifications for building McNary Dam are provided in this article?
What problems were faced by the contractor during construction? How were
they solved?
"Flood," in "The Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What effect did the 1948 flood have on building McNary Dam?
"We Map the Future or Panning Planning" in the Sage Hen, McNary Dam Newsletter,
circal 1951
What role does the planning department play in dam building? How does it view itself in relation to other departments? To the river?
Oregon Business Review article - "McNary Power Needed for Supersonic Research"
How does this plan for use of McNary power fit into other justifications for building the dam?
What groups oppose building the dam? Why?
Oregon Business Review article - "Dams Threaten West Coast Fisheries Industry," by Dr. P.R. Needham
What does Needham say will happen if comprehensive Columbia River development is completed?
Are fish hatcheries a solution, according to Needham? Why or why not?
What are Needham's main arguments against further dam building?
Hermiston Herald article, Feb. 10, 1955 - "Effect of McNary Dam on Fingerlings Draws Study"
What does this article reveal about the state of fisheries biology in 1955? What is the ultimate aim of the testing?
"Janis Paige" in the "Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
Why was Janis Paige present at the dedication ceremony? What does this article tell you about women's roles?
Ernabel Mittelsdorf recalls Dedication Day
What does Ernabel Mittelsdorf remember about dedication day?
"dedication day" in the "Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
How did the community participate in the dedication?
The tory of Charles McNary
What does the story of McNary's life reveal about why the Umatilla dam is named after him?
Umatilla and neighboring Morrow County population data, 1900-1993
How do these population statistics relate to economic and social changes in Umatilla County communities?
Hermiston growth in the Elmer Dodd scrapbook
What does this image tell you about regional growth?
Umatilla High School History
How does the Umatilla High School reveal changes in the community?
Spokane Review article - "Paper Owls Give Pigeons the Bird"
How does this article reflect unforeseen problems at McNary Dam?
Oral History transcript of Ernabel Mittelsdorf and Gloria Lampkin, April 9, 1999 Interview
What does Ernabel Mittelsdorf's story tell you about community involvement in McNary Dam?
Oregonian article, "New City of McNary Developed at Damsite to Take Care of Workers
How did the housing crunch at Bonneville Dam during construction affect expectations at McNary? What was different about the situtations at the two dams? What was similar?
"McNary Townsite" in "The Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What does this article tell you about federal housing? How were homes moved from Vancouver to McNary City?
John M. Allison discusses project towns in "The Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What does Allison say is the real justification for development of the Columbia River Basin?
Selections from Co-En-Da Cookbook
What does the Co-En-Da Cookbook tell you about women's community during the dam building era? How do the images and text reflect women's roles during the dam building era?
"Letter by Ernie Rosholt" outgoing president of the McNary Recreation Association " in "The Sage Hen," McNary Dam Newsletter, circa 1951
What activities did the Recreation Association organize?
McNary Dam Dedication Program
What benefits to the region are outlined in the program?
Documents from the Elmer Dodd Scrapbooks
What does Elmer Dodd's life story tell you about his involvement in pushing for McNary Dam?
Recording of President Eisenhower's Dedication speech
What does President Eisenhower consider the most critical issues in Columbia River development? How do they compare to the concerns of local people?
"McNary Dam" in a Report on a Proposed Highway Bridge Across the Columbia River
What relationship does McNary Dam have to the proposed Umatilla Bridge?
Ferry and Traffic Statistics
What type of vehicle had the second highest rate of crossing on the Umatilla
and Paterson ferries? What does this indicate about the local economy?
Hermiston Herald articles planning the Umatilla Bridge
Who was most active in pushing for a bridge at Umatilla? Why?
The McNary Dam Townsite brochure
What does this brochure demonstrate about the relationship between the community of Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation?
Public Law 85-186, An Act to stimulate industrial development near Indian reservations
What are the principal provisions of Public Law 85-186?
Report No. 91-1293 To Release and Convey the Reversionary Interest of the U.S in. . . McNary Dam Townsite
How did the McNary Townsite come under jurisdiction of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation? What stipulation did the tribes have for the lessees of the land?
Oregon Business Review article - "Power Shortage Critical in Pacific Northwest
What forces led to a "power shortage" in the Pacific Northwest? Based on comparisons
with other documents, do you think they are legitimate?
Hermiston Herald article - "Effect
of McNary Dam on Fingerlings Draws Study"
To what factors does the resident biologist attribute deaths of salmonids?
Hermiston Herald article - "Group seeks
full utilization of McNary Features"
How do efforts to "utilize" McNary's features compare to the original justifications
for the dam? Why was this an issue in 1953?
Report to Hearing Conducted by Reclamation Bureau and Corps of Army Engineers, May 20, 1955, by Elmer Dodd
What is Elmer Dodd's main focus in 1955?
General Questions To Consider:
What forces changed the justifications for McNary Dam during its construction and how did they compare to earlier justifications?
What relationship did the dam builders and community members have with the Columbia River?
What relationship did the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have to the community of Umatilla and McNary Dam?
In what ways did this era of expansion benefit the community of Umatilla? What were the drawbacks?
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