Narrators: Gloria Lampkin and Ernabel Mittelsdorf
Interviewer: Donna Sinclair
Date: April 9, 1999
Place: McNary Dam

Ernabel Mittelsdorf and Gloria Lampkin both worked at McNary Dam for many years. Ernabel grew up in Boardman, Oregon, and recalls skipping school to attend the dedication ceremony in 1947.

DS: [to EM] So you were there at the first shovelful of dirt being turned.

GL: We saw her. Right there she is. . . [Ernabel is in a newspaper photo standing right behind Mrs. McNary as she turns the first shovelful of dirt]

EM: That was the first and only time I skipped school, high school, and I was going to school in Pendleton.

GL: And she never once thought of working here at that time.

EM: No, I didn’t. And we came down for the, a car load came down from Pendleton for the groundbreaking ceremony.

DS: So you’re right there near Mrs. McNary. And is that Janet Paige? Janet Paige.

EM: Um-hum. Hadn’t even heard of her.

DS: I hadn’t either, until today [all laughing].

EM: I hadn’t either until that day.

GL: I heard of her afterwards.

EM: But, we decided we should come.

GL: See a movie star.

EM: Probably, probably. . . skipped school, and skipping school was not an option [laughs], you know back then.

DS: Did your parents know?

EM: Oh, well they must have known later.

DS: Since you’re in the newspaper, right?

EM: Must not have been a big problem.