tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post2615723026322988482..comments2024-02-15T01:23:10.272-08:00Comments on Staring Out the Window: Hoover Dam Stories: “They Died to Make the Desert Bloom” Guest Post by John Magnet BellKelly Stone Gamblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05580080443113053144noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-30531959957518227122011-10-07T15:01:14.508-07:002011-10-07T15:01:14.508-07:00People often ask me why I am so fascinated with th...People often ask me why I am so fascinated with the Hoover Dam and its story. I think you all have hit on several of those points here. I am thrilled that so many people are becoming more interested not only in the dam (and hopefully my book :) but in the history that is all around us, from the Scottish pubs to a wall in Boston to the Hoover Dam. Wonderful comments everyone. Thank you.Kelly Stone Gamblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05580080443113053144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-9444390999625357212011-10-07T07:34:28.040-07:002011-10-07T07:34:28.040-07:00Thanks for reading, Bill, Amberr, Natalie, Erica a...Thanks for reading, Bill, Amberr, Natalie, Erica and Betsy.<br /><br />As I wrote, I kept thinking, "I could well be writing about this day and age."<br /><br />There are, however, a few things we have now that people didn't have back then: <br />On average, I think, everyone's better educated. Communications infrastructures are faster, more diverse and efficient than they ever were. Economies now rely on industrial sectors that didn't even exist 70 or 80 years ago.<br /><br />What everyone in the world needs -- if the West is to pull through -- is smart, driven people. There's plenty of that.<br /><br />@Betsy<br /><br />How's this for history: about a mile outside Edinburgh, you'll find the village of Duddingston. There are two significant buildings there: Scotland's oldest church, still standing, built in 1124, and the Sheep Heid Inn, Scotland's oldest pub, which I think is about as old as the church. <br />Imagine all the people who had a drink at that pub over the centuries. And I am a small, anonymous part of that history myself. Now, you don't think about this much as you sit there with your pint in front of you, but once you return home, it's like... damn... that place has been serving people for almost a thousand years.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11113482909499600834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-9839668339281356102011-10-07T01:59:26.686-07:002011-10-07T01:59:26.686-07:00Amazing how we can pass by structures erected and ...Amazing how we can pass by structures erected and take the story behind them for granted. I was in Boston yesterday and drove past a huge wall with "1910" carved in its face. I stared and wondered. All of the ghosts of the people who passed by it for the past 101 years! That's what your story here does for me. It brings life to a dam. To a people who can teach us about suffering, hard work, sacrifice and endurance. Love it!Betsy Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14485990713613274522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-54688905581719544652011-10-06T22:21:53.796-07:002011-10-06T22:21:53.796-07:00I love your posts about the history of the Dam. I...I love your posts about the history of the Dam. I've never been, but I now feel a little closer to this bit of American history. I love the pictures...the imagery...the stories. I can't wait to read your book!Erica Lucke Deanhttp://www.ericaluckedean.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-30515357956755062952011-10-06T18:47:52.050-07:002011-10-06T18:47:52.050-07:00Lovely post. Although this is a bit of our history...Lovely post. Although this is a bit of our history, it sounds a note on our present economy as well. It's tragic what occurred during this era, and yet, we have a monumental bit of architecture that stands, partly because of the fall. Somehow, I can't see the same drive in present day though. I wonder, would we simply be picked off by buzzards?Natalie Kenneyhttp://nrkenney.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-62688026238500000932011-10-06T14:25:37.140-07:002011-10-06T14:25:37.140-07:00You know, when I read stories like this, it remind...You know, when I read stories like this, it reminds me that our current economic devastation doesn't even compare to The Great Depression. <br /><br />Excellent post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02168972187767598077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-14006202437170762572011-10-06T12:27:22.787-07:002011-10-06T12:27:22.787-07:00Sometimes people need to be reminded of sacrifices...Sometimes people need to be reminded of sacrifices that were made to make this a great country. I can only imagine the conditions at the Hoover Dam construction site were less than desirable and dangerous as well.<br /><br />All this brings us to today and how easy we now have it regardless of how bad the economy currently is. We never need to take the lessons for granted.<br /><br />Interesting post and very well done. Can you translate southern into English? Just askin'.....:)Bill Dormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03926904061151628301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-30271339939515035272011-10-06T12:12:58.307-07:002011-10-06T12:12:58.307-07:00Yeah, sometimes the Blogger comment system acts a ...Yeah, sometimes the Blogger comment system acts a little funny.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, Stan.<br />1,000 more words on Hoover Dam -- I will consider that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11113482909499600834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-33782418565068998082011-10-06T11:37:36.623-07:002011-10-06T11:37:36.623-07:00@Faryna sent this to my email-couldn't post a ...@Faryna sent this to my email-couldn't post a comment for some reason: <br /><br />I want MORE, John. That wasn't even a snack. And good writing is like that!<br /><br />Can I have another 1000 words?<br /><br />@FarynaKelly Stone Gamblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05580080443113053144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-29593687257558467592011-10-06T09:36:56.940-07:002011-10-06T09:36:56.940-07:00Thank you, Loree.
I wanted to include more about ...Thank you, Loree.<br /><br />I wanted to include more about the plaque and the sculptures at the Dam, but that's a story for another day.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11113482909499600834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878441230093247945.post-53709459591778295362011-10-06T08:31:40.380-07:002011-10-06T08:31:40.380-07:00Interesting post. Thank you John and Kelly!
When...Interesting post. Thank you John and Kelly! <br /><br />When I was small, I heard story after story of the Great Depression from my grandparents - such a difficult time in this country's history.<br /><br />I didn't realize that the dam was built during this time. Love the plaque.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.com