By Rushad Thomas
The Southwestern United States is a stunningly beautiful corner of the world. With desert as far as the eye can see, cacti taller than your head, and an ancient heritage of indigenous peoples who pioneered in technology long before the first European settlers arrived, this region of our country holds tremendous treasures that I encourage you all to explore.
I had the pleasure October 3 – 5 of exploring a southwestern treasure directly related to President Calvin Coolidge, the dam on the Gila River in Arizona that is eponymously named for him. Dedicated by Coolidge on March 4, 1930, the Coolidge Dam is a massive edifice, composed of three large domes, approximately 250 feet in height, anchored by two buttresses. The Dam impounds the Gila River for 23 miles when full.
Coolidge played an integral part in the construction of the dam. On June 7, 1924 President Coolidge signed the legislation authorizing the dam, which was passed unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives, and presented to him by the Arizona Congressional Delegation. He presided at the dedication ceremony, attended by more than 3,000 people, with First Lady Grace Coolidge at his side. Satirist Will Rogers, also in attendance, looked down from the dam at the grass in the lake bed, and quipped “If this were my dam, I’d mow it!” You can view footage of the dedication by clicking here.
In addition to exploring the wonders of the Coolidge Dam, I also had the privilege of staying in the City of Coolidge, Arizona, about an hour southeast of Phoenix, which was named for President Coolidge in 1925. Nearly 90 years later, the City of Coolidge is a wonderful, vibrant community. While there, I spoke to the town historical society about President Coolidge and the work of the Foundation, and invited them all to join us here at the Notch for our Worldwide Coolidge Reunion to be held next summer. I was also privileged to be able to ride in the Coolidge Days Parade as the representative of the Coolidge Foundation. That was quite a ride!
85 years later the Coolidge Dam still stands as a monument to the wonders of modern engineering, providing needed water to residents of Southeastern Arizona.
There are warm water springs below the dam off Government Rd. My future farther in law took me and others there around 1960. Just springs between boulders. Sorta a stand up sauna. I don’t remember the actual location but they are there. Ask someone.
While living in ThatcherAZ in 1979 I took groups of cub scouts to the dam. I climbed to the top of each spillway noticing that the steel ties of the pouring forms were little rusted or weathered. I was told that water had never reached the spillways.
Excessive snow pack and rain put the Gila into full flood and filled the lake for the first time. The concrete domes had cured poorly and water was pouring through cracks as thick as the hand. Attempts were made to lower the “flood gates” but they were rusted solid and could not be moved accordingly to conversation I overheard from officials.
There was serious concern for the dam’s stability.