Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Hoover Dam history a bridge to Boulder City’s past

Annual 31ers Reunion Luncheon scheduled for Oct. 10

31ers

Mona Shield Payne

From left, Barb Morris, Katherine Kirk and Peggy Durfey prepare to play the role of Erma Godbey at ages 80, 20 and 50, respectively. The trio will perform in a production showcasing Godbey’s life while she lived in Boulder City. The group is scheduled to perform in October for the annual 31ers Reunion and will continue with tours of local schools.

Click to enlarge photo

Lee Tilman, the last known Hoover Dam worker in Boulder City, died in 2007.

It's been 78 years since the term 31er was first coined, but Patty Sullivan said she is determined to make people remember the time and its connection to the Hoover Dam at the 54th 31ers Reunion Luncheon. The luncheon will be Oct. 10 at 700 Wyoming St.

Event coordinator Sullivan, granddaughter of original 31er Erma Godbey, said the term 31er refers to all of the people who came to Nevada in 1931 to work on the Hoover Dam. Over the years the term has evolved into several different definitions, she said.

"It was a very exclusive group and over time the family members of 31ers started coming," Sullivan said. "You can be a 31er if you came to work on the Hoover Dam, if your family moved here in 1931 or if you have lived here for 31 years."

Sullivan said after the dam was built workers got together and had annual reunions. Much like the term 31er, the luncheon has also evolved. It now features monologues, photographs and research presentations.

One of the displays will explain how the Hoover Dam was built using diversion tunnels and a cofferdam, she said.

"When you walk into the event you're going to feel like you're walking into a diversion tunnel," Sullivan said.

Skits and monologues will be another new addition this year. Volunteer actress Barb Morris said she will be performing her first monologue as Erma Godbey.

"I'm looking forward to it," Morris said. "I think it allows people to be able to appreciate the town more."

Art Lynch, communications professor at the College of Southern Nevada, will also be performing. He said he has been doing extensive research to portray construction superintendent Frank T. Crowe accurately.

"He was the person hired to make the dam a reality," Lynch said. "He finished the technology used to the build the dam two years in advance.

"It's been interesting to get inside his head."

Art's wife, Laura, wrote the monologues. He said her involvement stems from her love of history.

Sullivan said she hopes to get Boulder City High School students involved with the luncheon and work it into their history curriculum. She said she would like more theater students to participate in skits, especially a reenactment of the activities in Bootleg Canyon.

"Bootleg Canyon is called that because Prohibition and companies didn't allow alcohol on the dam site," Sullivan said. "High school kids are working with us and we're going to have a still (for making liquor)."

The still is an original washing machine and students will act as lookouts for people drinking in the canyon, Sullivan said.

Prop specialist Robby Berkheimer is also building a small ragtown home for the event. He said he is excited about seeing other 31ers and hearing stories.

"It's history and a lot of people don't know about it," Berkheimer said. "It seems like it will be exciting."

Berkheimer also said the event will give younger generations a taste of what life was like without technology.

In order to show this, Sullivan said a station will be set up to educate children about ways 31ers had to entertain themselves.

"One of the subjects we're going to do with the kids is show them there's no cell phone, computer, television or radio," Sullivan said. "Some of the kids have never played marbles and some might have seen jacks, but do they really know how to play?"

Reservations are $20 per person, with those signing up by Oct. 5 being guaranteed a lunch. All payments can be mailed to the Boulder City Museum and Historical Association.

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