before the 31er Reunion Luncheon became a thing of the past. As someone with some theater background, she also realized that interactive presentations might be an effective way to keep the stories going. Theater in the schools, in presentations, and the “living” potential of a local 31ers project base theater company were all considered. , She also realized that the schools in Boulder City might benefit from an education program that would join community experts and 31er families with the curriculum in the schools. As a native and a 31er, an active community member with a multitude of local friends and associations, and experience as an organizer and administrator with the City’s Park and Recreation Department she had some to bring to the project. She also did not necessarily feel constrained, as schoolteachers or education administrators might, by lengthy bureaucratic overall approach was to ask for from people who had steps. Patty’s the knowledge, skill set, appreciation, and enthusiasm for helping with the 31ers Outreach Program. Being a 31er descendant was not a requirement to volunteer or participate. Patty acted as a catalyst and visionary, while working side by side Sullivan’s with volunteers. Interview One Patty Sullivan – Patty described the history of the 31ers and its transition to an Outreach program: The term 31ers was coined for the people who came here in 1931 who camped on the river before the dam was built and before homes were built that they could live in. The city of Boulder City was planned from the start, but the work force and their families began arriving long before the government anticipated. So it was the people who actually worked on the dam that came here in 1931. Over the years it became know that anybody who worked on the construction of the dam, regardless if they came here in 1931 or not, was considered a 31er. When talking about the Hoover Dam, you have got to expand that into the Black Rock Canyon Dam Act because that encompassed everything from the surveying to the installation of the power generators, all the way to electrical and water disruption
before the 31er Reunion Luncheon became a thing of the past. As someone with some theater background, she also realized that interactive presentations might be an effective way to keep the stories going. Theater in the schools, in “living” presentations, and the potential of a local 31ers project base theater company were all considered. , She also realized that the schools in Boulder City might benefit from an education program that would join community experts and 31er families with the curriculum in the schools. As a native and a 31er, an active community member with a multitude of local friends and associations, and experience as an organizer and administrator with the City’s Park and Recreation Department she had some to bring to the project. She also did not necessarily feel constrained, as schoolteachers or education administrators might, by lengthy bureaucratic steps. Patty’s overall approach was to ask for from people who had the knowledge, skill set, appreciation, and enthusiasm for helping with the 31ers Outreach Program. Being a 31er descendant was not a requirement to volunteer or participate. Patty Sullivan’s acted as a catalyst and visionary, while working side by side with volunteers. Interview One – Patty Sullivan Patty described the history of the 31ers and its transition to an Outreach program: The term 31ers was coined for the people who came here in 1931 who camped on the river before the dam was built and before homes were built that they could live in. The city of Boulder City was planned from the start, but the work force and their families began arriving long before the government anticipated. So it was the people who actually worked on the dam that came here in 1931. Over the years it became know that anybody who worked on the construction of the dam, regardless if they came here in 1931 or not, was considered a 31er. When talking about the Hoover Dam, you have got to expand that into the Black Rock Canyon Dam Act because that encompassed everything from the surveying to the installation of the power generators, all the way to electrical and water disruption
final_revised_dissertation_7-14-2012.docx