Originally published in The Seattle Times, March 19, 1959
By Marshall Wilson
A young mother’s concern for her two children, living in a world filled with international crises, was the spark that has led to King County’s first radiation-fall-out shelter near Black Diamond.
Mrs. Ronald Frazier, reception-area manager for the Black Diamond area, recalls that some world crisis was being discussed about a year ago and she wrote to Edward H. Connor, Seattle–King County civil-defense director, for instructions on how to build a home shelter.
“The plans were too expensive for us,” Mrs. Frazier said. “I asked for the next-best alternative. I was advised to build a cement cellar in the back yard. We live in a rented house, so that was impossible.”
The answer to her third letter advised her to look for the nearest hole in the ground, such as a culvert.
Around Black Diamond when people think of holes in the ground they think of mines—
Mrs. Frazier and a group of neighbors looked over the mines in the area and decided Franklin Mine, three miles from town and on the banks of the Green River, best fitted their needs. It’s dry and has an almost constant 50-degree temperature.
Jack Morris of Enumclaw, the mine owner, gave permission for use of the mine’s abandoned upper level—a horizontal shaft extending 3,000 feet into the mountain.
Electric lights will be installed, a portable ventilating system will be ready, and blankets, first-aid equipment and other items have been packed and sealed in waterproof bags. Emergency radio equipment, to maintain contact with central civil defense headquarters, will be installed.
For the first 500 feet the mine shaft is about 20 feet wide, then it narrows to about ten feet. It is protected by up to 300 feet of granite overhead.
An adequate subterranean water supply from springs, which would not be contaminated by fallout, is available in the mine. A lower shaft is being worked, but could also be used to some extent if necessary.
Mrs. Frazier says state civil-defense officials have inspected the mine and it has met all the tests for safety—the mine withstood the area’s worst earthquake and should protect persons inside, even if the bomb landed directly overhead.
Enumclaw area will use mine
Originally published in The Seattle Times, March 17, 1959
King County’s first area shelter from radiation fall-out is being developed in a mine in the Enumclaw area.
Edward H. Connor, Seattle–King County civil-defense director, said arrangements have been completed for use of the upper level of the Franklin mine, three miles from Black Diamond. It can accommodate about 3,000 persons.
Connor credited Mrs. Patricia Frazier, volunteer reception-area manager, with beginning arrangements for use of the mine. It is owned by Jack Morris of Enumclaw.
Generator obtained
Ventilation is provided by a large air-exhaust system. Civil defense has obtained a 35-kilowatt generator for emergency use if normal power is cut·off.
Supplies for a first-aid station, equipment for feeding 4,000 persons and a limited supply of cots and blankets will be stored at the Black Diamond Food Market.
Water available
An emergency water supply is available in the mine, Connor said.
Besides providing shelter for residents in the immediate vicinity, Connor said, the mine could accommodate part of the 8,000 Seattle residents who would be evacuated through Enumclaw in the event of an atomic attack.
“There are lots of mines, and we look on this as the first step in developing a program that will use them for fall-out protection,” Connor said.
[…] Mother’s concern sparked mine radiation-shelter plan by Marshall Wilson, March 19, 1959 Mrs. Ronald Frazier, civil-defense worker in Black Diamond, inspected Franklin Mine, which will be King County’s first radiation fall-out shelter. The mine, which will hold 3,000 persons, would also protect against a nuclear blast. […]
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